Overview
- University of Pennsylvania scientists report in Science Advances that hydralazine binds the oxygen-sensing enzyme 2-aminoethanethiol dioxygenase (ADO).
- ADO inhibition altered breakdown of regulators of G‑protein signaling (RGS) proteins, clarifying the drug’s long-uncertain vasodilatory mechanism.
- In cultured human glioblastoma cells, blocking ADO halted proliferation and triggered senescence within three days.
- The experiments were conducted in vitro only, and no animal or human anticancer results have been reported.
- Because hydralazine is already FDA‑approved for hypertension, researchers say repurposing could be explored pending rigorous preclinical safety and efficacy data.