Cancer Research UK funded scientists have found that some types of cancer drugs called angiogenesis inhibitors can encourage tumour growth rather than stunt it - according to research published in Nature Medicine.
These drugs are designed to block the supply of blood to the tumour to prevent it from growing. This research focused on an experimental angiogenesis inhibitor called cilengitide that has not yet been licensed for patients.
The scientists based at The Institute of Cancer, Queen Mary, University of London, the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) and the Beatson Institute for Cancer Research found evidence to suggest that low doses of cilengitide in laboratory studies can have the opposite effect to what was expected and promote cancer growth.
Study author, Dr Andy Reynolds, from the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre at the ICR, said: "Our study revealed a previously unknown mechanism through which drugs such as cilengitide behave. It showed that while higher concentrations of cilengitide can block angiogenesis, lower concentrations can actually stimulate the supply of blood to the tumour and can promote its growth. These results may explain why initial results from early stage clinical trials have not been as promising as hoped.