Old antihypertensives as novel antineoplastics: angiotensin-I-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonists

• Published in: Medical hypotheses 2002-09, Vol.59 (3), p.344-348
• Main Authors: Abali, Hüseyin, Güllü, Ibrahim H, Engin, Hüseyin, Haznedaroğlu, Ibrahim C, Erman, Mustafa, Tekuzman, Gülten
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Angiogenesis Inhibitors - pharmacology; Angiogenesis Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors - pharmacology; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Animals; Antihypertensive Agents - pharmacology; Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; Blood Platelets - drug effects; Blood Platelets - metabolism; Carcinoma, Lewis Lung - blood supply; Carcinoma, Lewis Lung - drug therapy; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Endothelial Growth Factors - metabolism; Hematopoiesis - drug effects; Humans; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins - metabolism; Lymphokines - metabolism; Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; Mice; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Neoplasm Proteins - antagonists & inhibitors; Neoplasms - drug therapy; Neoplasms - metabolism; Oligopeptides - antagonists & inhibitors; Platelet Activation - drug effects; Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1; Renin-Angiotensin System - drug effects; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
• ISSN: 0306-9877; 1532-2777
• DOI: 10.1016/S0306-9877(02)00185-8

Angiogenesis, cellular growth and invasion of a cancer cell are attractive targets for new treatment strategies of malignancies in recent years. The evidences are accumulating that ACE inhibitors and angiotensin II type 1 antagonists could be novel anti-angiogenic, anti-invasive, and even anti-growth agents against neoplastic tissues: The renin–angiotensin system promotes angiogenesis directly or indirectly and growth of neoplastic cell. Some tumors carry angiotensin II type 1 receptors. Angiotensin II antagonists and angiotensin-I-converting enzyme inhibitors have shown some anti-neoplastic actions. Angiotensin II receptor blocker losartan antagonises platelets, which are thought to modulate via vascular endothelial growth factor. They may even protect the patient from the major toxicity of chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, myelotoxicity, enabling us to give higher doses and end up with higher success rate. We believe that these agents can be useful on clinical grounds and suggest their incorporation into clinical studies.