Common Blood Pressure Drug Supercharges Cancer Treatment in Surprising New Study

Dartmouth researchers found that the blood pressure drug telmisartan may boost olaparib’s anticancer activity in preclinical studies.

The combination increased tumor DNA damage and immune signaling, including type I interferon and PD-L1-related pathways.

Clinical trials are now testing telmisartan plus olaparib in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer and platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.

If the results hold in patients, this low-cost drug could expand PARP inhibitor use and help overcome resistance.