The chemical does not have as many side-effects, either

Feb 3, 2012 10:36 GMT  ·  By
Silver is just as effective as platinum against cancer, but produces fewer side-effects
   Silver is just as effective as platinum against cancer, but produces fewer side-effects

In a new series of laboratory tests, experts at the University of Leeds were able to demonstrate that silver can be just as effective against cancer as leading drugs used in chemotherapy. The research also found that using the chemical produces fewer side-effects, too.

Details of the investigation appear in the latest issue of the journal Dalton Transactions, in a paper entitled “Enhanced cytotoxicity of silver complexes bearing bidentate N-heterocyclic carbene ligands.”

The team explains that some of the currently-used chemotherapy drugs are based on platinum, such as the medication Cisplatin.

This particular drug is currently being used to treat a wide array of cancer types, simply because it is extremely toxic to tumor cells. At the same time, this toxicity unfortunately extends to healthy cells as well. Silver was found to be just as toxic to cancer cells, but not as toxic to healthy tissue.

In fact, the team adds, silver can help improve healthy cells, when administered in order to treat certain types of cancer. The chemical is already known for its antiseptic and antibiotic properties, and is heavily used as a bandage for burn victims. It also contributes to some water purification filters.

According to UL team leader Dr. Charlotte Willans, the researchers decided to investigate silver as a potential replacement for platinum-based compounds in order to reduce the number and intensity of side-effects. The latter include kidney damage, nausea, vomiting, hair and nail loss, and so on.

At this point, Cisplatin is used against lung, breast, bladder, testicle, head and neck, ovaries and lymph node cancers. “As many are unfortunately aware, chemotherapy can be a very gruelling experience for the patient,” Willans explains.

“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,” she goes on to say.

At this time, the team says that their approach to addressing cancer is still in its first phase of drug development. A lot of work remains to be done, but the prospects are encouraging, and the line of research promising.