A novel immunosuppressive drug, FTY720, prevents the cancer progression induced by cyclosporine.

Cyclosporine A (CsA), the most frequently used immunosuppressive drug, has been reported to induce cancer by a cell-autonomous mechanism. Herein, we report that FTY720, a novel immunosuppressant, prevents CsA-induced alterations in both morphology and cell motility at a low concentration (0.1 microM) and induces the CsA-treated cancer cells to undergo apoptosis at a higher concentration (more than 5 microM). The inhibitory activity of FTY720 is unrelated to the decrease of TGF-beta. We believe that a combination treatment with FTY720 and CsA not only results in a synergistic effect on allografts, but also, reduces the incidence of cancer in transplant patients.