Arthritis drug ‘can be effective as a blood cancer treatment’

A new UK study has highlighted the potential applications of a common arthritis drug as a treatment for blood cancers.

The University of Sheffield research discovered that methotrexate can be an effective means of treating myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), a condition caused by an overproduction of blood cells with symptoms such as night sweats, itching and tiredness.

A recently-developed therapy called ruxolitinib has been shown to provide relief, but is highly expensive and not yet approved in the UK. However, the new study has offered evidence that methotrexate is able to suppress the signalling pathway central to the development of MPNs.

This is a potentially significant discovery, as a year's course of low-dose methotrexate costs only around 30 pounds.

Dr Martin Zeidler from the university's department of biomedical science said: "The potential to repurpose methotrexate could provide thousands of patients with a much-needed treatment option and also generate substantial savings for healthcare systems."

Methotrexate is commonly used at low doses to treat inflammatory diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease and psoriasis and has few side effects.