New gold-based drug promises safer, more effective cancer treatment

A groundbreaking study led by researchers from RMIT University in Australia and Indian institutions has revealed a promising new gold-based drug in the battle against cancer. 

The drug has shown a remarkable ability to reduce tumor growth in animals by 82 per cent, while selectively targeting cancer cells much more effectively than conventional chemotherapy drugs, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Published in the European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, the research showcases a new gold compound that is 27 times more effective against cervical cancer cells compared to the commonly used chemotherapy drug cisplatin.

In laboratory tests, it has also been shown to be 3.5 times more effective against prostate cancer and 7.5 times more effective against fibrosarcoma.

In studies involving mice, the gold compound significantly outperformed cisplatin, reducing cervical cancer tumor growth by 82 per cent, compared to a 29 per cent reduction with cisplatin.

This research represents a major step forward in the search for alternatives to traditional platinum-based cancer therapies.

Professor Suresh Bhargava AM, who led the project at RMIT, highlighted that this breakthrough could lead to safer and more effective cancer treatments.

Gold's unique characteristics make it an ideal material for medical applications. Unlike many other substances, gold is highly stable and unreactive, which is why it is commonly used in jewelry and coins.

The compound used in this study is a specially engineered version of gold, designed to be reactive and biologically active.

This reactive gold compound is specifically tailored to interact with thioredoxin reductase, a key enzyme found in cancer cells.

The gold compound works by inhibiting the enzyme's function, effectively preventing cancer cells from multiplying and developing resistance to drugs.

Bhargava noted that this targeted approach greatly minimizes the toxic side effects typically seen with platinum-based drugs like cisplatin, which harm both cancerous and healthy cells indiscriminately.

“The selectivity of this new treatment, along with its reduced systemic toxicity, suggests a future of cancer therapies that are not only more effective but also far less harmful,” Bhargava commented. Furthermore, the stability of this particular form of gold enables it to reach tumor sites intact, enhancing its effectiveness.