Faculty of Health Sciences
School of Medicine
Department of Pharmacology
Selected Highlights from Research Findings
A PCT patent has been filed for a substance for the treatment of cancer, in cooperation with Prof JC Swarts from the Department of Chemistry, University of the Free State. The patent is the end product of a research study on the evaluation of novel ferrocene-containing b-diketones and ferrocene containing iridium and rhodium complexes for their potential as anticancer drugs and as radiosensitizers under aerobic and hypoxic conditions. One of the rhodium ferrocene complexes tested showed radiosensitization effects at levels achievable in vivo and would warrant further investigation for clinical use in the treatment of radio resistant tumours. Another compound, i.e. a ferrocene-containing b-diketone was identified as a potent anticancer agent per se. This agent decreased the growth of a tumour in an animal model of experimental chemotherapy significantly, compared to the untreated control mice. These compounds can easily be synthesized from commercially available precursors and may be used to good effect in anticancer treatment.
Contact person: Prof CEJ Medlen.
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