Scientists Use Tumor Carbon Monoxide to Build Anticancer Drugs Inside Cells

Researchers at RIKEN PRI in Japan devised a palladium catalyst shielded by albumin that converts excess carbon monoxide produced by tumors into toxic phenanthridinone compounds inside cancer cells. In cell cultures the reaction occurred in liver, cervical, breast and lung cancer lines but not in noncancerous cells. The method has not yet been tested in animals or humans.

• An albumin-wrapped palladacycle turns cellular CO into phenanthridinone
• The reaction worked in four cancer cell lines and not in healthy cells
• No toxic compound was detected in blood, where CO is bound to hemoglobin
• Animal and human trials are still ahead