NANBIOSIS Unit 20 validated a light-activated cancer therapy in a breast cancer model, supporting a promising strategy to target resistant tumor cells.
Barcelona, July 2026 — Researchers have demonstrated a promising photopharmacology strategy that uses light to selectively activate an anti-cancer compound, eliminating therapy-resistant tumor cells while minimizing effects on healthy tissue. The study, published in ACS Chemical Biology, included preclinical validation at NANBIOSIS Unit 20 (Functional Validation & Preclinical Research, FVPR), highlighting the role of the infrastructure in advancing innovative cancer therapies.
The research was led by scientists from the Institute of Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC) in collaboration with the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR). Their work focuses on cancer stem cells, a small but highly resilient population of tumor cells capable of surviving conventional treatments and driving tumor relapse.
The team developed a chemically modified version of chloroquine that remains inactive until exposed to light. Once illuminated for just a few seconds, the compound releases its active form and prevents the formation of tumor spheres, three-dimensional cellular structures enriched in cancer stem cells. Laboratory experiments also showed that the treatment works by inhibiting autophagy, a cellular process that helps these resistant cells survive.
As a proof of concept, the researchers validated the strategy in a murine breast cancer model at NANBIOSIS Unit 20. The compound was administered directly into the tumor and activated through external illumination. The experiments confirmed that the drug becomes active only when exposed to light inside the tumor, remaining inactive in the dark. This localized activation could significantly reduce unwanted effects on healthy tissues while improving treatment precision.
Although still at an early stage of development, the findings open new possibilities for more selective cancer therapies. The research team is now working to optimize the molecules so they can be activated by green or red light, wavelengths that penetrate deeper into tissue and could enable treatment of larger or less accessible tumors.
By providing specialized facilities for in vivo functional validation and preclinical research, NANBIOSIS Unit 20 played a key role in demonstrating the feasibility of this innovative therapeutic approach. The study exemplifies how NANBIOSIS supports cutting-edge biomedical research by helping translate promising laboratory discoveries into potential future clinical applications.
NANBIOSIS Unit 20 is directed by Dr. Vanessa Diaz at VHIR and provides advanced in vivo models and preclinical validation services for biomedical researchers developing new therapies and medical technologies.
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