Oral cancer continues to be a major health challenge worldwide, with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) ranking among the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat cancers of the head and neck. A new study by Prof. Biliana Nikolova and her research team at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences has introduced a promising direction in selective cancer therapy using thienopyrimidine-based compounds.
Title: Targeting
oral squamous cell carcinoma with thienopyrimidines
🧬 Research Insight
The research explored seven novel 2-substituted
4-amino-thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidines—originally designed as DPP-4 inhibitors—for
their cytotoxic and selective effects against oral cancer cells. Tests
were performed on SCC-9 and HSC-3 cell lines, along with normal HaCaT
keratinocytes to evaluate compound safety and specificity.
🌟 Major
Findings
- Compound 6 stood out with the highest selectivity index
(SI = 22.3 for SCC-9 and SI = 6.4 for HSC-3), showing strong anticancer
potential.
- Compound 4 also displayed impressive selectivity (SI =
12.8), while compound 5 performed comparably to doxorubicin.
- Advanced biophysical analyses, including FACS, colony-forming,
and cell migration assays, confirmed their ability to inhibit
cancer cell growth and spread.
- The study highlights compound 6 as a lead candidate for
further development as a selective oral cancer therapeutic with
reduced side effects on normal cells.
👩🔬 About the Scientist
Prof. Biliana Nikolova is a
distinguished biophysicist specializing in the impact of electric fields and
nanomedicine applications in cancer therapy. At the Institute of Biophysics
and Biomedical Engineering, she leads pioneering research that bridges biophysics,
electrotherapy, and biomedical engineering. Her work continues to inspire
new strategies in targeted cancer treatment and tissue regeneration.
🌍 Presented
At
🧫 International Conference on Cancer Science and Research
📅 November 17–19,
2025 | Singapore & Online
🌐 https://cancer.miconferences.com/
#OralCancerResearch #CancerScience #Biophysics #Thienopyrimidines
#CancerInnovation #CancerTherapy #BiomedicalResearch #OSCC #CancerWorldConf
#Cancer2025 #OncologyUpdates #CancerConferenceSingapore