A recent study conducted by Cambridge University has unveiled promising results regarding the potential of a cancer drug to significantly reduce the risk of heart attacks. The research, presented at the European Society of Cardiology congress in London, focused on aldesleukin, a medication commonly used in kidney cancer treatment.
The study's findings suggest that low doses of aldesleukin, administered via subcutaneous injection, can substantially decrease inflammation in the arteries. This inflammation is a key factor in increasing the risk of heart disease and subsequent cardiac events.
The trial involved 60 patients who had been hospitalized due to heart attacks or angina. Participants received either aldesleukin or a placebo through injections over an eight-week period. Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans, a technique that uses radioactive tracers to visualize metabolic processes, revealed a significant reduction in arterial inflammation among those treated with aldesleukin compared to the placebo group.
"We associate inflammation with healing – an inbuilt response that protects us from infection and injury. But it's now clear that inflammation is a culprit in many cardiovascular conditions."
The results were particularly notable in the most inflamed arteries, where the anti-inflammatory effect was even more pronounced. The level of reduction observed was comparable to the impact of high-dose statins, a class of drugs first discovered in 1971 and widely used to lower cholesterol levels.
Aldesleukin, a type of interleukin-2 (IL-2) protein that regulates white blood cell activities, was first approved by the FDA for kidney cancer treatment in 1992. In this study, researchers used doses a thousand times lower than those typically employed in cancer therapy. These low doses were found to increase the number of regulatory T cells, a type of anti-inflammatory white blood cell crucial for maintaining immune system balance.
The potential impact of this research is significant, considering that approximately 100,000 people are admitted to hospitals annually due to heart attacks. These patients face a 10-20% risk of experiencing a second attack or stroke within the following three years.
Dr. Sonya Babu-Narayan, associate medical director at the British Heart Foundation and a consultant cardiologist, emphasized the potential game-changing nature of this treatment. She highlighted that reducing inflammation after a heart attack could help interrupt the dangerous feedback loop that exacerbates inflammation and increases risk.
The study was primarily funded by the Medical Research Council, established in 1913, with support from the British Heart Foundation, founded in 1961, and the National Institute for Health and Care Research Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre.
While these findings are promising, further research is needed to confirm the long-term benefits of aldesleukin in preventing repeat heart attacks. If larger trials corroborate these results, aldesleukin could potentially become a routine part of care for heart attack patients within the next five to ten years, marking a significant advancement in cardiovascular treatment.