Common drug could help prevent spread of cancer
New research shows a commonly used blood thinner can help prevent the spread of cancer.
If heparin is given intravenously it prevents tumours from binding to blood cells and moving to new sites in the body.
The work has been described as "promising" by the UK based Cancer Research Campaign.
The effect was first reported 40 years ago but wasn't followed up when an oral treatment failed.
Alan Milligan, an information nurse at the Cancer Research Campaign, told Ananova: "It looks promising. The plus side is that these are drugs that we already know.
"Heparin has been around for a while and we know its effects because it is used and well-studied.
"The problem is that there are many different types of tumours and this treatment may well not be applicable to all."
The results of the University of California study will be published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
