tungsten-based compounds: a new frontier in cancer diagnosis and therapy

The specific physical and chemical properties of tungsten compounds are the reasons why these have emerged as a new generation of cancer diagnostic and therapeutic tool. being an element with high atomic numbers, tungsten-based contrast agents increase the resolution and contrast in x-ray and computed tomography. therefore, it may be applied in detecting tumors during the early stage as well as provide precise localization. the tungsten-based compounds may be used as fluorescent probes to provide a way to improve imaging techniques that would lead to the visualization of very small units such as individual cancer cells with great specificity. the compounds could enhance radiation therapy since it acts as a radiotherapy enhancer, making the effects of radiation more intense on tumor tissues using their high atomic number while at the same time minimizing damage to healthy neighboring cells. in addition, upon conjugation with molecules that selectively bind to specific markers on the surface of cancer cells, they can be used as targeted therapy agents allowing the direct delivery of drugs into malignancies. another approach currently being explored is where new chemotherapy agents, this time based on tungsten, are designed in such a way that they disrupt cellular metabolism or induce apoptosis in cancer cells. currently, preclinical studies have examined both toxicity and efficacy regarding these compounds to be further pushed towards clinical trials.