Gold-Based Drug Shows Potential for Targeted, Less Toxic Cancer Treatment

Gold-Based Drug Slows Tumor Growth by 82%, Offering Hope for Less Toxic Cancer Treatments.

A new study from RMIT University has revealed a promising new gold-based compound that shows potential for targeting and slowing cancer tumor growth with fewer side effects than conventional chemotherapy.

Published in the European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, the research demonstrates that this novel gold compound is far more potent than the widely used chemotherapy drug cisplatin, showing 27 times greater effectiveness against cervical cancer cells in laboratory tests.

It was also 3.5 times more effective against prostate cancer and 7.5 times more effective against fibrosarcoma cells, offering a new avenue for more selective and targeted cancer therapies.

How Gold Might Just Change The Landscape of Cancer Treatment

Gold is often considered the “noblest” of metals due to its stability and inertness in many chemical reactions. While its use has traditionally been limited to jewelry and currency, recent research has been uncovering its potential in medicine, particularly for cancer treatment.

The gold compound studied in this research is a specially designed form of gold known as Gold(I), which is highly reactive and biologically active, making it perfect for therapeutic use.

The compound works by interacting with thioredoxin reductase, an enzyme that is abundant in cancer cells. By blocking this enzyme, the gold compound can prevent cancer cells from multiplying and developing resistance to treatment. This mechanism represents a significant departure from traditional chemotherapy drugs like cisplatin, which target DNA indiscriminately and can harm both cancerous and healthy cells, leading to harmful side effects.

Promising Animal Study Results

In animal models, the gold-based compound demonstrated exceptional efficacy, reducing cervical cancer tumor growth by an impressive 82%, compared to cisplatin’s much lower 29%. This breakthrough suggests that the gold compound could provide a more targeted treatment option, offering the potential for fewer side effects and improved patient outcomes.

Suresh Bhargava, the project lead and Director of RMIT’s Centre for Advanced Materials and Industrial Chemistry, described the results as a significant step forward in the fight against cancer.

He emphasized that the compound’s ability to selectively target cancer cells while reducing systemic toxicity could transform cancer treatment as we know it, allowing for therapies that are both more effective and far less harmful to patients.

Collaborative Research and Global Interest

The study is the result of a collaboration between RMIT University and the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), supported by a $2 million Australia-India Strategic Research Fund grant.

The research team includes Srinivasa Reddy, a graduate of RMIT’s joint PhD program with IICT, who is playing an active role in the project.

In addition to the scientific breakthroughs, the research has garnered attention from the gold industry.

In October, Pallion subsidiary ABC Bullion pledged an annual donation of 250 grams of pure Australian gold (worth over AUD $30,000) to support further development of the gold-based cancer drugs.

Representatives from Agnico Eagle Mines, one of Canada’s largest gold producers, have also visited RMIT’s labs to explore potential collaboration opportunities.