The Hidden Killers: Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer
In the modern world, it’s easy to assume that the biggest threats to life come from dramatic events like accidents, violence, or pandemics such as COVID-19. However, the true biggest killers, both globally and in the U.S., are less visible yet far more deadly. Cardiovascular disease and cancer are responsible for nearly half of all deaths in the United States.
Though these two conditions may seem quite different, emerging research is beginning to reveal surprising connections between them—connections that could potentially lead to groundbreaking new treatments.
A New Perspective on Two Deadly Diseases
Cardiovascular disease, particularly atherosclerosis, and cancer may appear unrelated on the surface. Atherosclerosis, the most common form of cardiovascular disease, is caused by the build-up of fat, cholesterol, and other substances in the walls of blood vessels, leading to dangerous plaque formation. When these plaques rupture, they often cause heart attacks.
Cancer, on the other hand, typically arises from genetic mutations that cause cells to multiply uncontrollably, with the potential to affect any organ in the body. However, while their causes may seem distinct, cardiovascular disease and cancer share several key risk factors. Obesity, smoking, stress, and unhealthy lifestyles are all linked to both conditions.
Why do these diseases share so many common risk factors? The answer may lie in inflammation, a biological process central to the development of both diseases.
The Inflammatory Connection
Chronic inflammation plays a central role in both atherosclerosis and cancer. In atherosclerosis, inflammation damages the cells lining blood vessels, accelerating the formation of dangerous plaques. Similarly, inflammation can both initiate and support the spread of cancer by promoting mutations and encouraging the growth of blood vessels that feed tumors.
This shared role of inflammation has led researchers to explore the possibility of developing therapies that can treat both diseases at once.
Dual-Use Drugs: New Hope on the Horizon
Some drugs already used to treat cancer show promise in the fight against cardiovascular disease. For example, drugs targeting immune cells known as macrophages have been used in cancer treatment to get these cells to attack tumors. Similar treatments could prompt macrophages to clear dead and dying cells in atherosclerosis, helping to shrink dangerous plaques.
Antiglycolytic therapies, which inhibit the breakdown of glucose, are another exciting avenue. These drugs not only help treat cancer but also appear to normalize blood vessels in atherosclerosis and reduce inflammation. In some cases, even diabetes drugs like sodium glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors have shown potential to protect against both cancer and cardiovascular disease.
As researchers explore these overlaps, clinical trials are providing further evidence that targeting inflammation could lead to breakthroughs in treating both conditions. For instance, immunotherapies designed to enhance the immune system’s response to cancer have also shown promise in reducing plaques in cardiovascular disease.
The Trojan Horse of Nanomedicine
One of the most exciting developments in this field is the use of nanoparticles to treat both cancer and cardiovascular disease. Carbon nanotubes, which are over 10,000 times thinner than a human hair, can act as tiny delivery vehicles for drugs. These nanotubes can be carried by immune cells into tumors, much like a Trojan horse.
But this technique doesn’t stop at cancer. Since both cancer and cardiovascular disease involve inflammation, researchers are investigating whether these nanotube-loaded immune cells could also deliver treatments to plaques in arteries, reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes. This precision approach could lead to fewer side effects, as the treatment is directed only to the diseased areas of the body.
Nanoparticles also have the potential to improve diagnosis. By carrying imaging agents, they could help doctors better identify dangerous plaques in cardiovascular disease, or tumors in cancer.
The Future of Drug Development: One Drug, Multiple Uses
The discovery of molecular similarities between cancer and cardiovascular disease is reshaping the future of drug development. The costs of developing new drugs are enormous, but finding a treatment that can target both conditions could offer huge financial and clinical benefits.
Nanoparticles have been used in cancer treatment since the mid-1990s, and now researchers are hoping to apply the same technology to cardiovascular disease. Currently, only one nanodrug has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for cardiovascular disease, but the potential for more is enormous.
By leveraging the similarities between these two leading causes of death, scientists could develop treatments that save more lives while cutting costs and reducing risks for pharmaceutical companies.
Conclusion: A Path to Better Treatment
As research continues to uncover deeper links between cardiovascular disease and cancer, the potential for shared treatments grows. Nanomedicine offers a promising path forward, with the ability to target both diseases simultaneously. If successful, these innovations could revolutionize how we treat two of the world’s most deadly conditions, providing new hope for millions of patients.
