Hydralazine Brain Cancer Discovery: Old Blood Pressure Pill Puts Deadly Glioblastoma to Sleep
Hydralazine brain cancer research made a stunning breakthrough in 2025. Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania discovered that hydralazine, a 70-year-old blood pressure drug, can dramatically slow the growth of glioblastoma – the most aggressive form of brain cancer.
This cheap, generic medication puts glioblastoma cells into a permanent “sleep mode” called senescence by blocking a critical enzyme known as ADO (2-aminoethanethiol dioxygenase).
How Hydralazine Stops Glioblastoma Dead in Its Tracks
Researchers developed a special version of the drug (HYZyne) that finally revealed its exact mechanism after seven decades of use. Hydralazine brain cancer-fighting power comes from directly shutting down the ADO enzyme that glioblastoma tumors need to survive and multiply.
Key effects when ADO is blocked:
- Blood vessels relax (original hypertension treatment)
- Hydralazine stops glioblastoma cells from dividing
- Cancer cells enter senescence – they stay alive but stop growing for weeks after just one dose
Why This Hydralazine Brain Cancer Discovery Changes Everything
Glioblastoma currently has:
- Average survival of only 12–18 months
- Less than 5% five-year survival rate
- Few effective treatment options
Hydralazine is already FDA-approved, costs pennies per dose, and has an excellent safety record – even in pregnant women with preeclampsia.
Expert Reactions to the Hydralazine Glioblastoma Breakthrough
Leading neurosurgeons are calling this one of the most exciting developments in decades:
“A generic blood pressure pill that can put the deadliest brain cancer to sleep is nothing short of revolutionary.” – Dr. Walavan Sivakumar, Neurosurgery Director
Next Steps: Human Trials Starting Soon
Because hydralazine is already approved and widely available, researchers can skip years of safety testing. Phase I/II clinical trials combining hydralazine with standard glioblastoma treatments are expected to begin in 2026.
Drug Repurposing: The Future of Cancer Treatment
Hydralazine joins a growing list of old drugs finding powerful new cancer-fighting roles:
- Aspirin → colon cancer prevention
- Metformin → multiple cancers
- Propranolol → tumor shrinkage
For the 15,000+ Americans diagnosed with glioblastoma each year, this hydralazine brain cancer breakthrough offers something extremely rare: real, immediate hope using a medicine that’s already in every pharmacy worldwide.
