Indian scientists develop 'smart' cancer drug targeting tumour cells

Indian scientists have developed a new "smart" cancer drug designed to switch on and work only inside cancer cells, potentially offering an alternative to traditional chemotherapy, which can also harm healthy cells, according to the Science and Technology Ministry.

Cancer treatment often damages healthy cells along with cancer cells, causing significant adverse effects and side effects. This has created a need for targeted therapies that remain inactive in normal tissues as they travel through the body and become activated specifically at tumour sites.

A collaborative research team led by Dr Asis Bala from the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST), under the Department of Science and Technology, and Dr K.P. Bhabak from the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati has developed the new "smart" cancer drug, called RK-251, which is designed to activate primarily in cancer cells without harming healthy cells, the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

Cancer cells often produce high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are harmful molecules. When RK-251 enters a cancer cell, the high ROS levels trigger the drug's activation, releasing a powerful anti-cancer compound called "NBDHEX".

This compound blocks target proteins that many cancer cells use to survive and resist treatment.

In preclinical studies, RK-251 showed strong activity against aggressive triple-negative breast cancer cells, with much less effect on healthy cells, the statement said.

A behavioural study of the drug in zebrafish embryos also showed no obvious signs of toxicity and exhibited the desired fluorescence in the presence of reactive oxygen species (ROS), suggesting the drug may be safe for further research and validation.

More studies are needed before this technology can be tested in patients, the statement added.