NAMI-A is highly cytotoxic toward leukaemia cell lines: evidence of inhibition of KCa 3.1 channels.

We report here that the established anticancer ruthenium(iii) complex NAMI-A induces potent and selective cytotoxic effects in a few leukaemia cell lines. These results sound very surprising after 20 years of intense studies on NAMI-A, commonly considered as a "non-cytotoxic" antimetastatic agent. In addition, evidence is given for selective inhibition of KCa 3.1 channels. The implications of these findings are discussed.