World's oldest blood pressure drug may be effective against aggressive brain tumour: Study suggests

A decades-old drug, hydralazine, traditionally used to treat high blood pressure and preeclampsia during pregnancy , is now showing promise in fighting aggressive brain tumors . Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania discovered its molecular mechanism, revealing that hydralazine targets an enzyme called 2-aminoethanethiol dioxygenase (ADO), which acts as an oxygen sensor controlling blood vessel constriction.

The findings of the research are published in Science Advances.

Hydralazine lowers blood pressure by directly relaxing the smooth muscles in the walls of small arteries (arterioles). It interferes with calcium metabolism in vascular smooth muscle, reducing intracellular calcium levels. This relaxation causes the blood vessels to dilate, decreasing peripheral resistance