Columbia University Irving Medical Center researchers have discovered that smooth muscle cells (SMC) in arteries can behave like cancer cells, worsening atherosclerosis. Their study, published in Circulation, suggests that anticancer drugs could help prevent heart attacks and strokes caused by this condition.
Atherosclerosis, the buildup of fatty plaques in arteries, is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease. Despite treatments such as statins, the prevalence of atherosclerosis-related diseases continues to rise. Research published in Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine states that atherosclerosis “has now surpassed communicable diseases to become the world’s most prevalent killer.”
