Lukas Tomas and Harry Björkbacka (Photo: Björn Martinsson)
New research from Lund University in Sweden shows that inflammatory, unstable atherosclerotic plaque has a metabolism that differs from that of stable plaque - and is similar to that of cancer cells. Future research will therefore investigate whether cancer drugs could potentially be used to treat cardiovascular disease. Atherosclerotic plaque builds up gradually in the walls of the body's arteries. Ruptured plaque can trigger clots that cause life-threatening conditions such as stroke and heart attacks. Now, for the first time, analysis of plaque removed by surgery show that the metabolism of unstable plaque seems to be re-programmed in the same way as in white blood cells that cause inflammation. The results suggest that treatment with drugs that counteract the altering of metabolism could be a new approach to limit the inflammation in plaque that causes cardiovascular disease. "The altered metabolism we have identified in high-risk plaque is also present in cancer cells.
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