Drug may cut radiation brain function loss

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., Feb. 18 (UPI) -- U.S. medical scientists say they have discovered a common blood pressure drug might help prevent cognition loss following brain tumor radiation treatments.

Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center researchers used a rat model to test as hypothesis from previous studies that a compound similar to the anti-hypertensive drug losartan (Cozaar and Hyzaar) can prevent brain function loss that's associated with radiation therapy following brain tumor treatment.

The scientists said their findings appear to validate that hypothesis in rats and they are optimistic the same theory could be applied to humans.

"We need to kill cancer cells, but also prevent or reduce treatment-related side effects," said Professor Mike Robbins, who led the study. "One very interesting feature of this compound is that it has never shown any pro-tumor effects. If anything, it appears to have anti-tumor properties.

"We're very close to having a compound that will protect the normal brain from cognitive injury as a result of radiation and, at the same time, we may very well increase the likelihood of one day curing brain cancer patients of their tumors."

The study was recently published in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics.