Researchers have discovered a new gold-based medication that significantly reduces tumor growth in animals by 82% while offering a more targeted approach to fighting cancer compared to conventional chemotherapy, as reported in a recent study.
A groundbreaking gold-based drug can reduce tumor growth in animals by 82% and more precisely target cancers compared to traditional chemotherapy options, according to a study by researchers from Australia and India.
The research, conducted at RMIT University and published in the European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry , introduces a gold compound that is 27 times more effective against cervical cancer cells in laboratory settings than the commonly used chemotherapy drug cisplatin.
This compound also showed to be 3.5 times more effective against prostate cancer and 7.5 times more effective for fibrosarcoma cells in laboratory tests.
In experiments involving mice, the gold compound achieved an 82% reduction in cervical cancer tumor growth, whereas cisplatin only resulted in a 29% decrease.
Distinguished Professor Suresh Bhargava AM, the project leader at RMIT, emphasized that this presents a hopeful alternative to current platinum-based cancer treatments.
“These newly developed compounds exhibit impressive anticancer properties, surpassing existing treatments in several important ways, particularly their ability to specifically target cancer cells,” commented Bhargava, who directs RMIT’s Centre for Advanced Materials and Industrial Chemistry.
“Although there’s still some time before we reach human trials, we are genuinely encouraged by these findings.”
The gold compound is now patented in the US and is set for further development aimed at potential clinical use.
Moving Towards More Targeted and Less Toxic Treatments
Gold is well-known as a highly stable metal that reacts very little with other substances, making it ideal for items like wedding rings and coins.
However, the gold compound explored in this study is a specially designed form known as Gold(I), created to be highly reactive and biologically active.
It was formulated to engage with an enzyme commonly found in cancer cells, called thioredoxin reductase.
By inhibiting the activity of this enzyme, the gold compound effectively halts the proliferation of cancer cells and prevents them from developing resistance to treatments.
Bhargava noted that this targeted strategy reduces the toxic side effects often associated with platinum-based cisplatin, which indiscriminately damages both healthy and cancerous cells.
“The enhanced selectivity for cancer cells, coupled with minimized systemic toxicity, suggests a future where treatments are not only more potent but also less harmful,” said Bhargava.
This specific type of gold was found to be more stable than those used in earlier studies, allowing it to remain intact when reaching tumor sites.
Co-lead on the project, Distinguished Professor Magdalena Plebanski, mentioned that in addition to blocking protein activity, the compound carries another significant anti-cancer function.
In studies with zebrafish, it demonstrated an ability to prevent the formation of new blood vessels that tumors rely on to grow.
This marked the first instance of this gold compound displaying the anti-angiogenesis effect.
The drug’s efficacy in utilizing these two mechanisms simultaneously was confirmed across various cancer cell types, including ovarian cancer cells known for developing resistance to cisplatin in many scenarios.
“Resistance to drugs poses a considerable challenge in cancer treatment,” stated Plebanski, who leads RMIT’s Cancer, Ageing, and Vaccines Laboratory.
“Noting our gold compound’s strong effectiveness against difficult ovarian cancer cells is a crucial advancement in combating recurrent cancers and metastasis.”
Collaboration Across Regions as a Vital Factor
The RMIT team is in partnership with scientists at the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) in Hyderabad, supported by a $2 million grant from the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund.
Dr. Srinivasa Reddy, the study’s lead author, is a former graduate from RMIT’s joint PhD program with IICT and is now actively engaged in the collaborative research.
Additionally, Dr. Ruchika Ojha, a fellow with RMIT Vice-Chancellor’s Research Fellow program, has been instrumental in supporting Bhargava’s leadership of the Molecular Engineering Group for ongoing innovative research in gold-based therapies.
“I am honored to continue Professor Bhargava’s prestigious legacy, helping to ensure that his innovative contributions continue to inspire breakthroughs in this field,” remarked Ojha.
Bhargava highlighted that utilizing the finest talent and technological resources in both Australia and India is essential for making a significant impact in the battle against cancer.
Gold has been celebrated in Indian Ayurvedic medicine for centuries for its therapeutic qualities.
Currently, gold-based treatments for cancer are gaining international recognition, with developments like the repurposing of auranofin, an anti-arthritic medication, which is now showing hopeful results in cancer clinical trials.
“We understand that gold is well-accepted by the human body due to its long history of use in treating various ailments,” said Bhargava.
“In essence, gold has been tested in the market but lacks scientific validation.
“Our research is helping provide the necessary evidence and create new classes of molecules intended to enhance the inherent healing attributes of gold,” he explained.
Industry Support That Is Truly Valuable
RMIT’s sustained research efforts in this field have captured the interest of 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 this ongoing research.
Delegates from Agnico Eagle Mines, Canada’s third-largest gold producer, have also visited RMIT laboratories to discuss potential collaboration.
“These partnerships exemplify the social and scientific importance of our work,” stated Bhargava.
“There is a growing acknowledgment that this isn’t merely a scientific advancement but is also a progress towards tackling a major global health issue, and many are eager to contribute to it.”
This pivotal project, led by Bhargava and Plebanski, includes a vibrant team of emerging scientists such as Dr. Srinivasa Reddy, Dr. Steven Priver, Dr. Ruchika Ojha, Dr. Ranjith Jakku, and Dr. Tayebeh Hosseinnejad. Furthermore, six PhD students from countries like India, Germany, Australia, Bangladesh, and Mexico have joined in to bolster this global effort.
