Cancer drug reverses transplant rejection

A drug used to treat cancer has proven effective at stopping the body from rejecting a transplanted organ when other treatments failed, a study published on Saturday found.

US researchers administered the drug, bortezomib, to six patients whose immune systems were attacking transplanted kidneys and who did not respond to traditional anti-rejection treatments.

In each case, the drug promptly reversed the rejection, improved organ function, provided prolonged reductions in antibody levels and suppressed recurrent rejection for at least five months.