Asthma drug not used in Canada or US shows promise in fighting breast cancer
A drug known as ‘tranilast,’ which is used in Japan and Korea to treat asthma has shown promise in a recent study when it comes to preventing breast cancer. The study shows that the drug, which is not used in Canada or the United States, can halt the overall spread of breast cancer cells that are typically resistant to chemotherapy.
In the break-out study, researchers injected breast cancer cells into two groups of mice. One group received normal breast cancer treatment and the other was also given the tranilast. The results to the second group were the primary tumor’s growth being reduced by 50 percent and no spread of the disease was found to the lungs.
Tranilast works by binding to certain molecules known as the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR). The AHR will act to regulate cell growth and even some immunity. This makes the drug a useful weapon in treating allergies, inflammatory diseases, and even cancer.
While there is still more that needs to be looked at in future studies, the initial findings are amazing and certainly encouraging. Hopefully those in Canada and the US will take another look at this drug and see if there is something to the study or not.
Read more about this study by clicking here.
