黑料社

A new chemical compound has been developed and tested by scientists at the 黑料社 with the potential to destroy hard-to-treat cancer cells

A NEW chemical compound with the potential to destroy hard-to-treat cancer cells has been developed and tested by scientists at the 黑料社.  

Also, the compound causes remarkably little harm to healthy cells, meaning that the side effects traditionally associated with chemotherapy would potentially be significantly reduced. 

Multi-disciplinary research

At this early stage of its development, the compound, which contains the rare metal ruthenium, is generating exciting results in the laboratory, but there are significant challenges ahead before it enters clinical trial.  Nevertheless, research conducted by a team of chemists, biologists and pharmacists at the University鈥檚 School of Applied Sciences is to continue, the ultimate aim being to get these compound or a derivative into clinical trial.   

The breakthrough is described by the leading international journal .  One of the authors is , head of the University鈥檚 Department of Chemistry.  He originally created the ruthenium 鈥� containing compound as an academic exercise, but then he and , who is Professor of Cancer Pharmacology, decided to test it for toxicity to cancer.  

Exciting development

An important aspect of the new compound is that its molecular backbone has an eliciting twist and this is important for its activity.  Professor Rice explained that both helical and non-helical versions had been created and it was found this changed the selectivity of the compound, with the former being the most effective. 

It was discovered that the compound can target and destroy cells that lack the gene named p53.  This gene is known as 鈥渢he guardian of the genome鈥� and it protects normal cells from abnormalities and DNA damage, said Professor Phillips. 

鈥淚t is frequently mutated in cancer and loss of p53 function has significant biological impact including resistance to currently available anticancer drugs,鈥� he added. 

The fact that the new compound shows preferential activity against cancer cells that lack p53 therefore makes it an exciting development.  Furthermore, its lack of activity against normal cells suggests that the compound will not be toxic to normal cells leading to reduced side effects.  

• The article describing the new compound is: Simon J. Allison, David Cooke, Francesca S. Davidson, Paul I. P. Elliott, Robert A. Faulkner, Hollie B. S. Griffiths, Owen J. Harper, Omar Hussain, P. Jane Owen-Lynch, Roger M. Phillips,* Craig R. Rice,* Samantha L. Shepherd and Richard T. Wheelhouse. . Angewandte Chemie, 2018, DOI: 10.1002/anie.201805510.