Researchers have developed a vitamin B12-based compound called nitrosylcobalamin that can cross the blood-brain barrier and accumulate preferentially in glioblastoma tumors. Glioblastoma is one of the most lethal brain cancers, with most patients surviving less than 15 months after diagnosis. The compound releases nitric oxide directly into tumor tissue, where it remains active for at least 24 hours — far longer than in healthy surrounding tissue. When combined with standard glioblastoma treatments like temozolomide and TRAIL therapy, the compound dramatically increased tumor cell suppression in lab studies. While results are early-stage and limited to animal and cell studies, the research offers a potentially significant new strategy for a cancer that has resisted most treatment advances for decades.
