Arthritis And Blood Cancer: Cost-Effective Drug Helps Both Health Problems

New findings published in the journal PLOS ONE reveal that a new arthritis drug could also help patients with certain types of blood cancers.

Statistics show that individuals in their 50s and 60s are more prone to Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), which results in the overproduction of blood cells and can lead to symptoms such as night sweats, itching and tiredness.

Yet researchers at the University of Sheffield found that Methotrexate (MTX), which is just one thousandth of the cost of the current drug used to MPN, could provide extensive relief for those suffering from the problem.

"Given that a year's course of low-dose MTX costs around $45, the potential to repurpose MTX could provide thousands of patients with a much needed treatment option and also generate substantial savings for health care systems," researcher Dr. Martin Zeidler, said in a news release. "Because MTX is a World Health Organization 'Essential Medicine', this also means that this well understood drug could be used throughout the developing world."

This arthritis drug is commonly used in low doses that can be treated for certain inflammatory health issues, including Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis, with very few side effects. It is also used in some cancers at much higher doses. However, at these rates, side effects are more substantial and similar to other chemotherapy agents.

With the current treatment for MNPs limited to aspirin, mild chemotherapy or removal of excess blood, the drug Ruxolitinib was also developed and shown to provide relief. However, the cost is quite heavy at $60,000 per year per patient. Furthermore, it has not yet been approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) at this time.

Researchers are currently working with clinical colleagues at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital to see if they could repurpose low-dose MTX for the treatment of MPNs.

"We have the potential to revolutionise the treatment of this group of chronic diseases -- a breakthrough that may ultimately represent a new treatment option able to bring relief to both patients and health funders," Ziedler concluded.

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