Functionalized azobenzene platinum(II) complexes as putative anticancer compounds.

The synthesis and characterization of four platinum(II) complexes using azobenzenes conveniently functionalized as ligands has been carried out. The characteristic photochemical behavior of the complexes due to the presence of azobenzene-type ligands and the role of the ligands in the activation of the complexes has been studied. Their promising cytotoxicity observed in HeLa cells prompted us to study the mechanism of action of these complexes as cytostatic agents. The interaction of the compounds with DNA, studied by circular dichroism, revealed a differential activity of the Pt(II) complexes upon irradiation. The intercalation abilities of the complexes as well as their reactivity with common proteins present in the blood stream allows to confirm some of the compounds obtained as good anticancer candidates.

Squaramide-Based Pt(II) Complexes as Potential Oxygen-Regulated Light-Triggered Photocages.

Two new squaramide-based platinum(II) complexes C1 and C2 have been synthesized and fully characterized. Their photoresponse has been assessed and is discussed. A remarkable enhancement in the DNA binding activity has been observed for both complexes, up on irradiation. For C2, the release of Pt(II) provoked by its irradiation has been studied. The response of C2 has been found to be regulated by the presence of oxygen. In vitro cytotoxicity tests show an enhancement in the activity of complex C2 after selective irradiation under hypoxic conditions. Resulting Pt(II) species have been isolated and characterized by various analytical methods establishing this type of squaramido-based complexes as a proof of concept for new Pt(II) photocages.

Understanding the interaction of an antitumoral platinum(II) 7-azaindolate complex with proteins and DNA.

The reactivity of the [Pt(dmba)(aza-N1)(dmso)] complex 1, (a potential antitumoral drug with lower IC50 than cisplatin in several tumoral cell lines) with different proteins and oligonucleotides is investigated by means of mass spectrometry (ESI-TOF MS). The results obtained show a particular binding behaviour of this platinum(II) complex. The interaction of 1 with the assayed proteins apparently takes place by Pt-binding to the most accessible coordinating amino acids, presumably at the surface of the protein -this avoiding protein denaturation or degradation- with the subsequent release of one or two ligands of 1. The specific reactivity of 1 with distinct proteins allows to conclude that the substituted initial ligand (dmso or azaindolate) is indicative of the nature of the protein donor atom finally bound to the platinum(II) centre, i.e. N- or S-donor amino acid. Molecular modeling calculations suggest that the release of the azaindolate ligand is promoted by a proton transfer to the non-coordinating N present in the azaindolate ring, while the release of the dmso ligand is mainly favoured by the binding of a deprotonated Cys. The interaction of complex 1 with DNA takes always place through the release of the azaindolate ligand. Interestingly, the interaction of 1 with DNA only proceeds when the oligonucleotides are annealed forming a double strand. Complex 1 is also capable to displace ethidium bromide from DNA and it also weakly binds to DNA at the minor groove, as shown by Hoechst 33258 displacement experiments. Furthermore, complex 1 is also a good inhibitor of cathepsin B (an enzyme implicated in a number of cancer related events). Therefore, although compound 1 is definitely able to bind proteins that can hamper its arrival to the nuclear target, it should be taken into consideration as a putative anticancer drug due to its strong interaction with oligonucleotides and its effective inhibition of cat B.

Thiosemicarbazone-metal complexes exhibiting cytotoxicity in colon cancer cell lines through oxidative stress.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer and has a high incidence in developed countries. At present, specific treatments are being required to allow individualized therapy depending on the molecular alteration on which the drug may act. The aim of this project is to evaluate whether HPTSC and HPTSC* thiosemicarbazones (HPTSC = pyridine-2-carbaldehyde thiosemicarbazone and HPTSC* = pyridine-2-carbaldehyde 4N-methylthiosemicarbazone), and their complexes with different transition metal ions as Cu(II), Fe(III) and Co(III), have antitumor activity in colon cancer cells (HT-29 and SW-480), that have different oncogenic characteristics. Cytotoxicity was evaluated and the involvement of oxidative stress in its mechanism of action was analyzed by quantifying the superoxide dismutase activity, redox state by quantification of the thioredoxin levels and reduced/oxidized glutathione rate and biomolecules damage. The apoptotic effect was evaluated by measurements of the levels of caspase 9 and 3 and the index of histones. All the metal-thiosemicarbazones have antitumor activity mediated by oxidative stress. The HPTSC*-Cu was the compound that showed the best antitumor and apoptotic characteristics for the cell line SW480, that is KRAS gene mutated.

Revisiting the thiosemicarbazonecopper(II) reaction with glutathione. Activity against colorectal carcinoma cell lines.

Thiosemicarbazones (TSCs), and their copper derivatives, have been extensively studied mainly due to the potential applications as antitumor compounds. A part of the biological activity of the TSC-CuII complexes rests on their reactivity against cell reductants, as glutathione (GSH). The present paper describes the structure of the [Cu(PTSC)(ONO2)]n compound (1) (HPTSC=pyridine-2-carbaldehyde thiosemicarbazone) and its spectroscopic and magnetic properties. ESI studies performed on the reaction of GSH with 1 and the analogous [{Cu(PTSC*)(ONO2)}2] derivative (2, HPTSC*=pyridine-2-carbaldehyde 4N-methylthiosemicarbazone) show the absence of peaks related with TSC-Cu-GSH species. However GSH-Cu ones are detected, in good agreement with the release of CuI ions after reduction in the experimental conditions. The reactivity of 1 and 2 with cytochrome c and myoglobin and their activities against HT-29 and SW-480 colon carcinoma cell lines are compared with those shown by the free HPTSC and HPTSC* ligands.

Reprint of "Anticancer activity of hydroxy- and sulfonamide-azobenzene platinum(II) complexes in cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cells".

The syntheses of three platinum(II) complexes bearing sulfonamide-((E)-2-(4-methylphenylsulfonamido)-2',6'-difluoroazobenzene, HL1) and hydroxy-azo-2,6-difluorobenzene ((E)-2-((2,6-difluorophenyl)diazenyl)phenol, HL2) bidentate ligands is described. These complexes, [Pt(L1)(DMSO)Cl] (1), [Pt(L2)(DMSO)Cl] (2), and [Pt(L2)2] (3), were characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and X-ray crystallography. Despite bearing azobenzene functional groups, none of the three complexes undergo photoisomerization. The anticancer activities of these complexes were evaluated in wild-type (A2780) and cisplatin-resistant (A2780CP70) ovarian cancer cells. All three complexes exhibited IC50 values below 10µM and displayed similar activity in both A2780 and A2780CP70 cell lines, indicating that they are not cross-resistant with cisplatin. The DNA-binding properties of 1-3 were investigated by circular dichroism spectroscopy and by agarose gel electrophoresis. Both studies suggest that 1 and 2 form monofunctional DNA adducts.

Anticancer activity of hydroxy- and sulfonamide-azobenzene platinum(II) complexes in cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cells.

The syntheses of three platinum(II) complexes bearing sulfonamide- ( (E)-2-(4-methylphenylsulfonamido)-2',6'-difluoroazobenzene, HL1) and hydroxy-azo-2,6-difluorobenzene ((E)-2-((2,6-difluorophenyl)diazenyl)phenol, HL2) bidentate ligands is described. These complexes, [Pt(L1)(DMSO)Cl] (1), [Pt(L2)(DMSO)Cl] (2), and [Pt(L2)2] (3), were characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and X-ray crystallography. Despite bearing azobenzene functional groups, none of the three complexes undergo photoisomerization. The anticancer activities of these complexes were evaluated in wild-type (A2780) and cisplatin-resistant (A2780CP70) ovarian cancer cells. All three complexes exhibited IC50 values below 10µM and displayed similar activity in both A2780 and A2780CP70 cell lines, indicating that they are not cross-resistant with cisplatin. The DNA-binding properties of 1-3 were investigated by circular dichroism spectroscopy and by agarose gel electrophoresis. Both studies suggest that 1 and 2 form monofunctional DNA adducts.

New steroidal 7-azaindole platinum(II) antitumor complexes.

Two new steroidal 7-azaindole-based N-donor ligands 17-α-[7-azaindole-5-ethynyl]-17-ß-testosterone (ET-Haza) (1) and 17-α-[7-azaindole-5-ethynyl]-19-nortestosterone (LEV-Haza) (2), and two new DNA damaging warheads with an enhanced lipophilicity [Pt(dmba)Cl(L)] (dmba=N,N-dimethylbenzylamine-κN,κC; L=ET-Haza (3) and LEV-Haza (4)) have been prepared and characterized. Values of IC50 were calculated for complexes 3 and 4 against a panel of human tumor cell lines representative of ovarian (A2780 and A2780cis) and breast cancers (T47D). At 48 h of incubation time 3 and 4 showed very low resistance factors (RF of 1) against an A2780 cell line which has acquired resistance to cisplatin, IC50 values of the new complexes towards normal human LLC-PK1 renal cells at 48 h being about double than that of cisplatin. 3 and 4 are able to react with 9-ethylguanine (9-EtG) yielding the corresponding monoadduct [Pt(dmba)(L)(9-EtG)](+) derivatives as followed by ESI-MS. Compound 3 interacts mainly with double-stranded (DS) oligonucleotides as shown by analysis with ESI-TOF-MS, being also able to displace ethidium bromide (EB) from DNA, as observed by an electrophoretic mobility study. 3 and 4 are good cathepsin B inhibitors. Theoretical calculations at the COSMO(CHCl3)/B3LYP-D/def2-TZVPPecp//B3LYP-D/def2-TZVPecp level and energy evaluations at the COSMO(CHCl3)/PWPB95-D3/def2-TZVPPecp level of theory on compound 4 and model systems have been done.

Novel C,N-chelate rhodium(III) and iridium(III) antitumor complexes incorporating a lipophilic steroidal conjugate and their interaction with DNA.

The novel steroidal conjugates [M(η(5)-C(5)Me(5))Cl(LEV-ppy)] (M = Rh (1) and Ir (2)) bearing the lipophilic levonorgestrel group 17-α-[2-phenylpyridyl-4-ethynyl]-19-nortestosterone (LEV-ppy), where the chelating ligand is N and C-bound, have been prepared and characterized. Both compounds are more active than cisplatin (about 6-fold) in T47D (breast cancer) at 48 h incubation time. On the other hand, very low resistance factors (RF) of 1 and 2 in A2780cisR (cisplatin-resistant ovarian carcinoma) at 48 h were observed (RF = 0.9 and 1.1, respectively). The iridium steroidal compound 2 is twice as active as the non-steroidal analogue 2', whose promising anticancer activity has recently been reported by Sadler. Theoretical DFT calculations on complexes 1 and 2 at the B3LYP-D/def2-TZVP-ecp level of theory show that the strongest bond to the metal atom is the η(5)-interaction to the Cp* ligand and that both of them feature a rather strong metal-chlorine bond. The new steroidal conjugates 1 and 2 are able to bind to DNA according to Hoechst 33258 displacement experiments and ESI-TOF MS spectrometry studies. Complexes 1 and 2 are also cathepsin B inhibitors, an enzyme implicated in a number of cancer related events.

Studying the interactions of a platinum(II) 9-aminoacridine complex with proteins and oligonucleotides by ESI-TOF MS.

The interaction of a novel Pt complex, [Pt(dmba)(N9-9AA)(PPh(3))](+)1 (dmba = N,N-dimethylbenzylamine-κN,κC; 9AA = 9-aminoacridine), which exhibits anti-tumor activity, with certain key proteins has been monitored by ESI-MS. Also, the interaction of 1 with a designed double-stranded oligonucleotide containing the GG motif has been followed by mass spectrometry as well as by fluorimetry. The results obtained show the low interaction of 1 with the considered proteins and the absence of covalent interaction with the oligonucleotides, but the fluorimetric data confirm the π-π interaction of 1 with the double-stranded DNA, which is probably the reason of the previously reported activity of 1 in several tumor cell lines.