Two junior research groups at Ruhr-Universität Bochum have developed a groundbreaking drug complex that not only specifically kills cancer cells, but also trains the immune system to fight these cells throughout the body, including metastases. The gallium complex developed by Dr. Johannes Karges (Chemistry and Biochemistry) and Dr. Carlos Plaza-Sirvent (Medicine) triggers a rare immunogenic cell death in which cancer cells send out a warning signal that alerts the immune system to them. The results were published in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry on July 17, 2025.

Metastases are the main cause of 90 percent of cancer-related deaths, as they form at distant sites in the body and are difficult to fight. The aim of the research was to specifically train the immune system to effectively recognize and eliminate cancer cells. The newly developed gallium complex penetrates cancer cells and generates oxidative stress in the endoplasmic reticulum, an important cell structure, due to its unique chemical properties. This leads to immunogenic cell death, a rare form of cell death in which proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum and the cell nucleus reach the cell surface. These proteins act as a strong warning signal for the immune system, which then recognizes the cancer cells as a threat and attacks them – not only on the original tumour, but ideally also on metastases in other parts of the body.

The efficacy of the active ingredient was successfully tested on cervical cancer cell lines. The particular strength of the approach lies in the ability of the immune system to develop a long-term memory for the cancer cells, which enables the destruction of metastases. According to the authors, the active substance therefore offers great potential to revolutionize the treatment of cancer, especially in advanced stages with metastatic growth.

In the next step, the teams are working on optimizing the active substance so that it is specifically enriched in cancer cells in order to minimize side effects in healthy cells. Johannes Karges’ group has already developed promising approaches in which the active substance can be specifically activated by external signals such as light or ultrasound. These techniques could further increase the precision and safety of the therapy. The research results mark a significant advance in cancer immunotherapy and could lay the foundation for new, effective treatment strategies against cancer and its metastases.

Original Paper:

Gallium(III) Complex Induces Immunogenic Cell Death Hallmarks for Chemoimmunotherapy | Journal of Medicinal Chemistry

Editorial office: X-Press Journalistenbüro GbR

Gender note. The personal designations used in this text always refer equally to female, male and diverse persons. Double/triple references and gendered designations are avoided for the sake of better readability ected.