Two-trigger drugs target 'zombie' cancer cells with sharper aim
Stopping a cancer cell from dividing does not necessarily make it harmless. Chemotherapy can leave behind living, senescent cells. These 'zombie' cells can release inflammatory signals, helping tumors resist treatment. Drugs that eliminate these lingering cells could help, but they can also harm other cells.
Two-trigger drugs, developed by researchers from China's Eastern Institute of Technology and Xinqiao Hospital, are designed to selectively target and kill senescent cancer cells. These "zombie" cells, which are not destroyed by standard chemotherapy, can release inflammatory signals that allow tumors to resist treatment. The new drugs use a combination of near-ultraviolet light and the enzyme beta-galactosidase to unlock the cancer-killing properties of other drugs.
In laboratory tests, this technique made drugs more selective about which cells they killed, reducing toxicity to healthy cells. The approach showed promise in both breast cancer cell models and lung tumor organoids, but further research in animals and humans is needed to confirm its safety and effectiveness.
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