Metal-free carbon monoxide prodrugs may help prevent cancer's deadly spread

Article excerpt

Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine have developed a metal-free carbon monoxide prodrug that shows promise in preventing cancer metastasis in preclinical studies. The compound, published in Advanced Science, works by converting into an active form within the body and may help reduce recurrence of pancreatic and triple-negative breast cancer, two particularly aggressive malignancies. The approach targets a new mechanism to stop cancer cells from spreading after initial treatment succeeds, potentially offering a complementary strategy to existing therapies for patients who initially respond well but face the risk of relapse.