A metal that was found on the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs may now be the key to finding a cure for cancer.

Experts have conducted a series of tests that concluded that the metal, which is called iridium, can penetrate the nucleus of cancer cells by latching onto the blood protein albumin. Once this happens, the metal can be blasted with a laser beam to produce a poisonous form of oxygen that is deadly for tumor cells and harmless for healthy ones.

Known as photodynamic therapy, this form of treatment kills cancer cells through oxidization in which the cells’ own oxygen is converted into a lethal form.

“It’s amazing this large protein can penetrate into cancer cells and deliver iridium which can kill them selectively on activation with visible light,” said Professor Peter Sadler, from the department of chemistry at Warwick University. “If this technology can be translated into the clinic, it might be effective against resistant cancers and reduce the side effects of chemotherapy.”

Sadler went on to explain that his team of researchers used a special organic coating to hook up iridium to albumin, causing it to glow very brightly. They then used microscopes to track its passage into lung cancer tumors grown in the lab and found that the process had destroyed the growths.

The researchers also found that albumin was able to deliver iridium right into the nucleus of cancer cells, which contains all of the cancer’s genetic material.

“It’s fascinating how albumin can deliver our photosensitiser so specifically to the nucleus,” said Dr. Cinzia Imberti, who is also from Warwick. “We are at a very early stage, but we are looking forward to see where the pre-clinical development of this new compound can lead.”

Sadler and his fellow researchers have hope that iridium will lead to a cure for cancer in the next few years.

“It’s certainly now time to try to make good medical use of the iridium delivered to us by an asteroid 66 million years ago,” Sadler said.