Researchers harness cancer cells' carbon monoxide to produce anticancer drug

Cancer cells' own carbon monoxide fuels anticancer drug production in lab tests

What if we could use a cancer's own byproduct to make drugs that destroy tumor cells from the inside? That is what Katsunori Tanaka and his team have done at the RIKEN Pioneering Research Institute (PRI) in Japan.

Researchers harness cancer cells' carbon monoxide to produce anticancer drug

What if we could use a cancer's own byproduct to make drugs that destroy tumor cells from the inside? That is exactly what Katsunori Tanaka and his team have done at the RIKEN Pioneering Research Institute (PRI) in Japan.

Scientists Develop Albumin-Based System To Produce Anticancer Compounds Inside Tumour Cells

Scientists have developed an experimental system that uses carbon monoxide produced by cancer cells to synthesise potential anticancer drugs. Early laboratory tests showed modest selectivity, but further research is needed before clinical use.

Cancer cells killed with their own carbon monoxide

A RIKEN proof-of-concept study shows an albumin-wrapped palladium catalyst can use excess carbon monoxide inside cancer cells to synthesize a cytotoxic phenanthridinone drug, killing tumor cell lines while sparing normal cells.