A team of scientists at the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Center has made a new treatment for glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer. Their drug, called nitrosylcobalamin (NO-Cbl), disguises itself as Vitamin B12 to cross the blood-brain barrier and target the cancer. The results of their early study were published in the journal Oncoscience.

The treatment works because glioblastoma cells need a lot of Vitamin B12 to grow quickly. By looking like Vitamin B12, NO-Cbl can get into the cancer cells and release nitric oxide, a chemical that destroys the tumour from inside.

So far, the treatment was only tested on animals. The drug was able to reach the tumours and kept high levels of attack for up to 24 hours. More tests must be done before doctors can give it to people.