A drug has been created that destroys cancer cells in a special way

Scientists from Ruhr University in Bochum have made a significant breakthrough in the fight against cancer. They have developed an innovative drug that not only attacks cancer cells but also triggers a special type of death in them, activating a powerful immune response in the body. Thanks to this mechanism, the immune system gains the ability to not only recognize the primary tumor but also effectively destroy its metastases throughout the body. The results of this promising research were published in the authoritative scientific journal Journal of Medicinal Chemistry (MedChem).

The revolutionary drug is based on a gallium compound with unique properties. Penetrating inside the malignant cell, this substance causes a critical level of stress in it, leading to its destruction. However, the main feature of the process is that the dying cancer cell releases specific signaling molecules - proteins that serve as a kind of "alarm signals" for the immune system. This phenomenon, known in scientific circles as immunostimulatory cell death, becomes the key to activating the body's natural defense mechanisms.

Thanks to this approach, the patient's body effectively "learns" to independently detect and attack malignant cells, even if they have migrated to distant organs and tissues. Laboratory tests have already demonstrated the high effectiveness of the new method in fighting cervical cancer cells, which opens up prospects for treating one of the most common oncological diseases in women.

Currently, the scientific team has focused efforts on improving the accuracy and safety of the developed therapy. Special attention is being paid to creating mechanisms that allow the drug to be activated exclusively within the tumor. Among the methods being considered is the use of light or ultrasound for local activation of the drug. This approach aims to minimize the impact on healthy tissues, significantly reduce side effects, and substantially increase the effectiveness of antitumor treatment.