Results from the study at the University of Leeds show silver compounds are as toxic to cancer cells as the platinum-based drug Cisplatin. But the crucial difference is that silver is thought to be much less toxic to healthy human cells, and in some cases, can be beneficial. Silver is currently used for its antiseptic and antibiotic properties, in bandages, wound dressings and water purification filters in the third world.
Results from the study at the University of Leeds show silver compounds are as toxic to cancer cells as the platinum-based drug Cisplatin. But the crucial difference is that silver is thought to be much less toxic to healthy human cells, and in some cases, can be beneficial. Silver is currently used for its antiseptic and antibiotic properties, in bandages, wound dressings and water purification filters in the third world.
Results from the study at the University of Leeds show silver compounds are as toxic to cancer cells as the platinum-based drug Cisplatin. But the crucial difference is that silver is thought to be much less toxic to healthy human cells, and in some cases, can be beneficial. Silver is currently used for its antiseptic and antibiotic properties, in bandages, wound dressings and water purification filters in the third world.
The internet is awash with stories of how silver can be used to treat cancer. Now, lab tests have shown that it is as effective as the leading chemotherapy drug - and may have fewer side-effects. Results from the study at the University of Leeds, published in Dalton Transactions, show that particular silver compounds are as toxic to cancer cells as the platinum-based drug Cisplatin, which is widely used to treat a range of cancers. But the crucial difference is that silver is thought to be much less toxic to healthy human cells, and in some cases, can be beneficial. Silver is currently used for its antiseptic and antibiotic properties, in bandages, wound dressings and water purification filters in the third world. Nausea and vomiting, kidney damage and an increased risk of infection are common side effects of Cisplatin which is used to treat cancer of the lungs, breast, bladder, testicles, head and neck, ovaries and lymph nodes. Dr Charlotte Willans who is leading the study said: "As many are unfortunately aware, chemotherapy can be a very gruelling experience for the patient. Finding effective, yet non-toxic drugs is an ongoing problem, but these preliminary results are an important step in solving it." "Our research has looked at the structure which surrounds a central silver atom. This 'shrubbery' is what determines how reactive it is and what it will interact with. Our research has used different types of these ligands to see which is the most effective against cancer cells," adds Dr Willans. The research, still the first phase of drug development, involved exposing breast and colon cancer cells with different silver-based chemicals for six day periods. It has been shown that ligands which are co-ordinately bonded to the central silver atom through two sites are more effective than those coordinated through only one site. This may be due to the release of silver being much slower and make these compounds more effective over a longer period of time. A major barrier to the continued development of these compounds is a lack of understanding of how they work. Over the next 12 months, research will focus on investigating how the compounds damage cancerous cells and what effects they have on healthy cells. This will establish whether these silver complexes are in fact less toxic to ordinary human tissue, and will help to design and develop the next-generation of chemotherapy drugs. This work is being carried out in collaboration with Dr. Roger Phillips at the University of Bradford and is funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research. The paper Enhanced cytotoxicity of silver complexes bearing bidentate N-heterocyclic carbene ligands will be published in Dalton Transactions and can be found online here: http://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2012/dt/c2dt12399a For more information Contact Richard Mellor Media Relations Assistant, University of Leeds T: 0113 34 34031 E: r.d.mellor@leeds.ac.uk Notes to Editor: 1. The 2008 Research Assessment Exercise showed the University of Leeds to be the UK's eighth biggest research powerhouse. The University is one of the largest higher education institutions in the UK and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. The University's vision is to secure a place among the world's top 50 by 2015. www.leeds.ac.uk
Una bala de plata para vencer al cncer? Publicado el jueves 2 de febrero 12 El Internet est lleno de historias de cmo la plata se puede usar para tratar el cncer. Ahora, las pruebas de laboratorio han demostrado que es tan eficaz como el medicamento que lleva la quimioterapia - y pueden tener menos efectos secundarios. Los resultados del estudio en la Universidad de Leeds, publicado en Dalton Transactions, muestran que los compuestos de plata particulares son tan txicos para las clulas cancerosas como el medicamento a base de platino cisplatino, que es ampliamente utilizado para tratar una variedad de cnceres. Pero la diferencia crucial es que la plata se cree que es mucho menos txico para las clulas humanas sanas, y en algunos casos, puede ser beneficioso. La plata se usa en la actualidad por sus propiedades antispticas y antibiticas, con vendas, apsitos para heridas y filtros de purificacin de agua en el tercer mundo. Las nuseas y los vmitos, dao renal y un aumento del riesgo de infeccin son los efectos secundarios comunes de cisplatino que se utiliza para tratar el cncer de pulmn, mama, vejiga, testculos, cabeza y cuello, ovarios y los ganglios linfticos. Dr Charlotte Willans quien lidera el estudio, dijo: "Como muchos son conscientes lamentablemente, la quimioterapia puede ser una experiencia muy agotadora para el paciente Encontrar soluciones eficaces, pero los medicamentos no txicos es un problema constante, pero estos resultados preliminares son un paso importante en. resolverlo. " "Nuestra investigacin ha analizado la estructura que rodea a un tomo central de plata. Este 'arbustos' es lo que determina la forma reactiva que es y lo que va a interactuar con. Nuestra investigacin ha utilizado diferentes tipos de estos ligandos para ver cul es el ms eficaz contra las clulas del cncer ", aade el Dr. Willans. La investigacin, que sigue siendo la primera fase de desarrollo de frmacos, particip exponiendo las clulas de mama y el cncer de colon con diferentes productos qumicos a base de plata por perodos de seis das. Se ha demostrado que los ligandos que se unen coordinadamente al tomo central de plata a travs de dos sitios son ms eficaces que los coordinados a travs de un solo sitio. Esto puede ser debido a la liberacin de plata de ser mucho ms lento y hacer que estos compuestos ms eficaz durante un perodo de tiempo ms largo. Un obstculo importante para el desarrollo continuo de estos compuestos es la falta de comprensin de cmo funcionan. Durante los prximos 12 meses, la investigacin se centrar en la investigacin de cmo los compuestos daar las clulas cancerosas y los efectos que tienen sobre las clulas sanas. Esto determinar si estos complejos de plata, de hecho, menos txico para el tejido humano normal, y ayudar a disear y desarrollar la prxima generacin de frmacos de quimioterapia. Este trabajo se est llevando a cabo en colaboracin con el Dr. Roger Phillips de la Universidad de Bradford y est financiado por Yorkshire Cancer Research. El papel mejorada citotoxicidad de complejos de plata que llevan ligandos bidentados carbeno N-heterocclicos se publicar en Dalton Transactions y se puede encontrar en lnea aqu: http://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2012/dt/c2dt12399a Para obtener ms informacin Contacto Richard Mellor Relaciones con los Medios Asistente, Universidad de Leeds T: 0113 34 34 031 E: rdmellor@leeds.ac.uk Notas a los redactores: 1. La Evaluacin de la Investigacin Ejercicio 2008 mostr la Universidad de Leeds a ser el octavo mayor potencia la investigacin en el Reino Unido. La Universidad es una de las instituciones de educacin superior ms grandes del Reino Unido y miembro del Grupo Russell de universidades de investigacin intensiva. La visin de la Universidad es conseguir un lugar entre los 50 primeros del mundo en el ao 2015. www.leeds.ac.uk