Published in Nature Communications, the proof-of-concept study describes how a synthetically designed compound uses the excess carbon monoxide produced in tumor cells to trigger the production of anticancer drugs within the cells themselves. Treatment methods based on this technique would be ideal as they selectively target tumors and avoid harming healthy cells.
The concept
For cancer treatment to be the most effective, it must kill the cancer without producing harmful side effects. For traditional chemotherapies, the side effects may end up being just as harmful as the cancer. Tanaka and like-minded researchers are trying to improve treatments by devising new technologies that selectively target tumors.