Cancer researchers at the University of Bradford have developed a treatment that only activates when it reaches a tumour, reducing damage to healthy cells.
The drug is based on colchicine -- a compound derived from the autumn crocus. The colchicine is attached to a string of seven amino acids, which are cleaved off when they meet a particular class of enzyme (matrix metalloproteinases) that are only found in tumour environments, allowing the drug to activate.
The compound then starves the tumour to death by destroying its blood vessels, a process known as haemorrhagic necrosis. Previous treatments have focused on preventing growth of new blood vessels, but the University of Bradford's Kevin Adams said that this is the first attempt at removing existing blood vessels.
Enlace: 'Smart' cancer drug only activates on contact with tumours (Wired UK)