Study: Cancer Drug May Be Useful in Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis

A drug that helps cut off the blood supply to tumors may be useful in treating rheumatoid arthritis as well, according to Japanese researchers.

The drug, known as endostatin, is a naturally-occurring protein that inhibits growth of new blood vessels -- a process vital to the spread of cancer.

Results of past research suggest the same process is also important to the progression of rheumatoid arthritis.

In their study, human rheumatoid arthritis tissue was implanted into 13 mice. Seven were given 10 or 50 milligrams of human endostatin. Six mice served as controls.

Results of the study, appearing in the Journal of Rheumatology, showed significant reductions in both synovial fluids and inflammation in mice that received endostatin.

"The results suggest that (treatment) using endostatin represents a potential new therapeutic strategy for rheumatoid arthritis," the researchers concluded.

Other sources: Journal of Rheumatology