Forty times more efficient

A drug has been found that selectively kills brain cancer cells

Svetlana Maslova, Hi-tech+

Scientists from the Scripps Institute (USA) have identified a drug compound that selectively and effectively kills brain tumor stem cells. Now hyoblastoma is one of the most deadly types of cancer, and the discovery will transform its therapy.

The press release of Promising compound selectively kills brain cancer stem cells is published on the institute's website.

The drug called RIPGBM was tested on cultured human tumor cells – prototypes of glioblastoma stem cells.

Experiments have shown that it is 40 times more effective than the standard antitumor drug temozolomide.

No less important is the selectivity of the action of the substance. It kills malignant cells and spares other types of brain cells, the researchers emphasize. After testing the drug on mouse models, they recorded a strong suppression of tumor growth.

Earlier studies have proven that stem cells are the key to effective glioblastoma therapy. After surgical removal of the tumor with chemotherapy, some cells disperse and become fixed in the brain, and then provoke the emergence of new foci of cancer.

In another experiment with mice, scientists treated one group of rodents with RIPGBM, and left the other untreated. The growth of tumors in the first group was minimal.

The team plans to continue experiments on animals and, if the results are confirmed, move on to clinical trials in humans.

Today there is no effective therapy against glioblastoma, but scientists from Virginia Polytechnic University have found a potentially weak point of this deadly type of cancer. They believe that it is possible to stop the spread of malignant cells if the speed of movement of the intercellular fluid is reduced. And there is already a suitable drug for this.

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