TASS, February 29. Oncologists and biochemists from Russian and Belarusian universities have jointly produced synthesized compounds capable of suppressing the growth of cancer cells. According to the press service of Togliatti State University (TSU), the research is about a particularly dangerous and complex disease called triple-negative breast cancer, which accounts for 15-20% of all breast cancer cases and occurs in younger women.

"Researchers have synthesized compounds capable of inhibiting cell growth of triple-negative breast cancer - this type of female oncopathology is the most difficult to treat. The study involved specialists from three universities:  St. Petersburg, Belarusian and Togliatti State Universities (SPbSU, BSU and TSU), as well as the Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology (Moscow)," noted in the press service.

Thoughtful design made of noble metals

One of the solutions was suggested by the team of St. Petersburg State University Associate Professor Mikhail Kinzhalov with the assistance of colleagues from Belarus. They synthesized new drugs based on platinum and palladium. Scientists created elaborate molecule designs, which made it possible to build structures of unique spatial complexity, capable of precise interaction with biological targets and highly energetic in the body.

A number of newly obtained substances was submitted by SPbSU scientists for testing to the Medicinal Chemistry Center of Togliatti State University (TSU CMC). According to the director of the center, Alexander Bunev, the experiments used typical cancer cells sensitive to hormones and a laboratory model of triple-negative breast cancer. The research was also conducted on healthy cells of human skin and kidney.

The result was a compound that could target the most dangerous cancer cells and was three times less toxic to kidney cells and hundreds of times less toxic to skin cells than conventional chemotherapy drugs. This compound was then tested on mice at the Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology and was found effective.