New Skin Cancer Treatment Begins Human Trials in Brazil

Human trials have begun in Brazil for an innovative compound designed to treat non-melanoma skin cancer. The treatment consists of a mixture of a silver complex combined with an anti-inflammatory agent.

The development of the molecule is the result of 12 years of research led by chemist Pedro Paulo Corbi, the coordinator of the Laboratory for Research in Bioinorganic and Medicinal Chemistry (LQBM) at Unicamp.

The research was conducted in collaboration with pharmacist Gisele Goulart, a researcher at the Cancer Genetics Laboratory (Lageca) at the Faculty of Medical Sciences (FCM) of Unicamp, and oncologist Carmen Silvia Passos Lima.

Passos Lima serves as the coordinator of the Clinical Oncology Service at the Hospital de Clínicas (HC) of Unicamp and the Cancer Genetics Laboratory (Lageca) at the Faculty of Medical Sciences (FCM) of Unicamp.

The compound targets non-melanoma skin cancer, which is identified as the most common type of skin cancer in Brazil. These tumors typically affect areas of the body that are exposed to the sun, such as the face, neck, mouth, ears, arms, and legs.

Clinical Context and Patient Impact

While non-melanoma skin cancer is not the most aggressive or lethal form of the disease, it carries a high potential for stigmatization due to its location on visible parts of the body.

The standard medical treatment for this type of cancer is typically surgical resection, which involves the removal of part or all of the affected tissue or organ.

This surgical approach can lead to mutilation or the formation of deep scars, particularly when the tumor is located in the mouth, nose, or ears.

According to Pedro Paulo Corbi, the resulting physical changes often cause a great deal of social pressure for the patients.

The human trials, which began in 2026, aim to evaluate the efficacy of the silver complex and anti-inflammatory compound as a promising alternative to traditional surgical removal.