A new gold-based drug has been shown to be more effective than standard chemotherapy

A new gold-based drug can slow tumor growth in animals by 82% and target malignancies more selectively than standard chemotherapy drugs, according to a study by Australian and Indian scientists.

The RMIT University study, published in the European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, reports a new gold-based compound that in laboratory settings was 27 times more potent on cervical cancer cells than the standard platinum chemotherapy drug cisplatin. It was also 3.5 times more effective against prostate cancer and 7.5 times more effective against fibrosarcoma cells under laboratory conditions. In studies in mice, the gold compound reduced cervical cancer tumor growth by 82% compared to 29% when given with cisplatin.

This study was a promising step toward developing alternatives to platinum-based anticancer drugs.

The gold-based compound is already covered by a US patent and is ready for further development for possible clinical use.

Toward more targeted and less toxic treatments

Gold is known as the noblest of all metals as it is virtually unreactive with other substances, making it an ideal material for making rings and coins. For centuries, gold has been an essential element of Indian Ayurvedic medicine, renowned for its healing properties.

Today, gold-based cancer therapies are gaining momentum worldwide, with advances such as the modification of the anti-arthritis drug auranofin now showing promise in clinical trials for oncology.

The gold compound used in this study is a chemically modified form known as gold(I), designed to be highly reactive and biologically active. This chemically active form was then adapted to interact with the enzyme thioredoxin reductase, abundantly present in cancer cells.

By blocking the activity of this protein, the gold compound effectively destroys cancer cells before they have a chance to multiply or develop drug resistance.  This highly targeted approach minimizes the toxic side effects seen with cisplatin (a platinum-based drug), which attacks DNA and damages both healthy and cancerous cells.

In addition, this particular form of gold has proven to be more stable than those used in previous studies, allowing the compound to remain intact while it reaches the tumor site.

Gold is known to be easily accepted by the human body and has been used for thousands of years to treat a variety of diseases. In fact, it has stood the test of time and proven to be safe, but has not been scientifically validated.

This study helps to provide the missing evidence base and create new groups of molecules that can enhance the natural therapeutic properties of gold.

RMIT’s long-standing research in this area has also attracted the attention of the gold mining industry.

In October, Pallion’s subsidiary ABC Bullion pledged to donate 250 grams of pure Australian gold worth more than A$30,000 annually to support the research.

Representatives from Canada’s third largest gold producer, Agnico Eagle Mines, also visited RMIT laboratories to explore opportunities for collaboration.