Gallium Maltolate for Brain Tumors

Last updated: 4/27/25

Overview

Gallium Maltolate is an investigational oral drug being studied for its potential to treat various cancers, including brain tumors such as glioblastoma. Gallium, the active agent, is a semi-metal that mimics iron in biological systems and disrupts processes that cancer cells depend on for survival and replication. By binding gallium to maltolate, researchers created a formulation with much better oral absorption compared to older gallium salts.

Gallium Maltolate has demonstrated promising results in laboratory studies and early-phase clinical trials, particularly due to its ability to interfere with iron metabolism, a pathway critical to tumor growth. It is currently available through clinical trials and, for patients who do not qualify for trials, an expanded access program (compassionate use) is available.

How Gallium Maltolate Works

Gallium Maltolate attacks cancer cells through multiple mechanisms:

• Iron Mimicry: Gallium closely resembles ferric iron (Fe³⁺) and is taken up by tumor cells through iron-uptake mechanisms such as transferrin receptors, which are often overexpressed in aggressive tumors like glioblastoma.
• Inhibition of Ribonucleotide Reductase: Once inside the cell, gallium inhibits the iron-dependent enzyme ribonucleotide reductase, which is essential for DNA synthesis. Without it, cancer cells cannot replicate.
• Disruption of Mitochondrial Function: Gallium may impair mitochondrial respiration by interfering with iron-sulfur cluster formation, further stressing cancer cell metabolism.
• Anti-inflammatory Effects: Gallium also dampens inflammatory pathways that promote tumor progression and immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment.
• Blood-Brain Barrier Penetration: Preclinical studies suggest that Gallium Maltolate is capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier, a critical requirement for any effective glioblastoma therapy.

Conclusion

Gallium Maltolate is a promising investigational treatment for glioblastoma and other aggressive brain tumors. Its ability to target iron metabolism, combined with an excellent safety profile and oral dosing convenience, sets it apart from many existing therapies. Although it is still considered experimental, patients who do not qualify for clinical trials may be able to access Gallium Maltolate through an Expanded Access Program. Ongoing research will determine whether it can become part of the standard treatment options for brain tumor patients in the future.

For more information about clinical trials, expanded access programs, or other treatment options for brain tumors, please contact our Patient Navigation Program.