The current drug, invented by Professor Peter Sadler from the Warwick University, is a metal in organic compound with unusual properties which destroys cancer cells in a given area, minimizing toxic effects on healthy cells. It is completely inactive and harmless to the body in the dark, but when exposed by light, it decomposes into platinum and releases ligand molecules that attack cancer cells.

Most often during chemotherapy, a platinum compound cisplatin is used. This kind of therapy was invented half a century ago and causes poisoning of the body, destroying healthy cells on a par with damaged ones. In addition, malignant tumors are increasingly resistant to traditional methods of treatment, so new therapies are required, writes EurekAlert.

"We hope that the new approach, combining light and chemotherapy, will be able to play an important role in combating with the contemporary shortcomings of cancer therapy and it will help save lives," says Professor Sadler.