Synthesis of an anti-glioblastoma (brain cancer) cyclotide from violets.

Synthesis of an anti-glioblastoma cyclotide from violets promises to advance our glioblastoma research by several years.

Glioblastoma is one of the most aggressive forms of brain cancer. Patients typically survive only a year after diagnosis.

We reported in the Journal of Natural Products that growth of human glioblastoma cells can be slowed by cyclotides, circular proteins extracted from violets.

By adding cyclotides, we were able to increase over eight-fold the effectiveness of the FDA-approved chemotherapy Temozolomide (TMZ).

We commissioned a state-of-the-art protein laboratory to produce a synthetic version.

Using our new Orbital Trap Mass Spectrometer, we are now testing small quantities of the synthetic molecules to ensure the same efficacy as those that occur in nature.

This synthetic approach promises to advance our glioblastoma research by several years.