Probing the Interactions of Cytotoxic [Pt(1S,2S-DACH)(5,6-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline)] and Its PtIV Derivatives with Human Serum.

The discrepancy between the in vitro cytotoxic results and the in vivo performance of Pt56MeSS prompted us to look into its interactions and those of its PtIV derivatives with human serum (HS), human serum albumin (HSA), lipoproteins, and serum-supplemented cell culture media. The PtII complex, Pt56MeSS, binds noncovalently and reversibly to slow-tumbling proteins in HS and in cell culture media and interacts through the phenanthroline group with HSA, with a Kd value of ∼1.5×10-6 m. All PtIV complexes were found to be stable toward reduction in HS, but those with axial carboxylate ligands, cct-[Pt(1S,2S-DACH)(5,6-dimethyl-1,10-phenantroline)(acetato)2 ](TFA)2 (Pt56MeSS(OAc)2 ) and cct-[Pt(1S,2S-DACH)(5,6-dimehtyl-1,10-phenantroline)(phenylbutyrato)2 ](TFA)2 (Pt56MeSS(PhB)2 ), were spontaneously reduced at pH 7 or higher in phosphate buffer, but not in Tris buffer (pH 8). HS also decreased the rate of reduction by ascorbate of the PtIV complexes relative to the reduction rates in phosphate buffer, suggesting that for this compound class, phosphate buffer is not a good model for HS.

Identification of the molecular mechanisms underlying the cytotoxic action of a potent platinum metallointercalator.

UNLABELLED: Platinum-based DNA metallointercalators are structurally different from the covalent DNA binders such as cisplatin and its derivatives but have potent in vitro activity in cancer cell lines. However, limited understanding of their molecular mechanisms of cytotoxic action greatly hinders their further development as anticancer agents. In this study, a lead platinum-based metallointercalator, [(5,6-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline) (1S,2S-diaminocyclohexane)platinum(II)](2+) (56MESS) was found to be 163-fold more active than cisplatin in a cisplatin-resistant cancer cell line. By using transcriptomics in a eukaryotic model organism, yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we identified 93 genes that changed their expressions significantly upon exposure of 56MESS in comparison to untreated controls (p ≤ 0.05). Bioinformatic analysis of these genes demonstrated that iron and copper metabolism, sulfur-containing amino acids and stress response were involved in the cytotoxicity of 56MESS. Follow-up experiments showed that the iron and copper concentrations were much lower in 56MESS-treated cells compared to controls as measured by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Deletion mutants of the key genes in the iron and copper metabolism pathway and glutathione synthesis were sensitive to 56MESS. Taken together, the study demonstrated that the cytotoxic action of 56MESS is mediated by its ability to disrupt iron and copper metabolism, suppress the biosynthesis of sulfur-containing amino acids and attenuate cellular defence capacity. As these mechanisms are in clear contrast to the DNA binding mechanism for cisplatin and its derivative, 56MESS may be able to overcome cisplatin-resistant cancers. These findings have provided basis to further develop the platinum-based metallointercalators as anticancer agents. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s12154-011-0070-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis: new approaches to prevention and management.

Oral mucositis is a common and significant toxicity of cancer chemotherapy. It is under-reported and not well treated, particularly in patients that receive high-dose therapy with an autologous or allogenic stem cell transplant. Two recently published retrospective analyses of patient complaints following stem cell transplantation have identified oral mucositis as the worst toxicity reported by patients, and what is more important is that patients indicated that oncology healthcare team members do a poor job of managing and providing methods of symptom relief. Twenty percent of patients surveyed indicated they received no symptom relief at all.