Organoruthenium Complexes with C

Our study demonstrates that four novel kinetically inert C,N-cyclometalated RuII complexes of the type [Ru(C^N)(N^N)2 ][PF6 ] containing a handle for functionalization on the C^N ligand are very potent cytotoxic agents against several different human cancer cell lines and are up to 400-fold more potent than clinically used cisplatin. In addition, the investigated ruthenium complexes are less cytotoxic in noncancerous cells, and exhibit higher selectivity for cancer cells than conventional platinum anticancer drugs. The high potency of the investigated ruthenium compounds can be attributed to several factors, including enhanced internalization and their capability to change mitochondrial transmembrane potential in cells. The new ruthenium complexes also interfere with protein synthesis with a markedly higher potency than conventional inhibitors of DNA translation. Notably, the latter mechanism has not been hitherto described for other cytotoxic Ru compounds and cisplatin.

Ferrocenyl-Coupled N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes of Gold(I): A Successful Approach to Multinuclear Anticancer Drugs.

Four gold(I) carbene complexes featuring 4-ferrocenyl-substituted imidazol-2-ylidene ligands were investigated for antiproliferative and antivascular properties. They were active against a panel of seven cancer cell lines, including multidrug-resistant ones, with low micromolar or nanomolar IC50 (72 h) values, according to their lipophilicity and cellular uptake. The delocalized lipophilic cationic complexes 8 and 10 acted by increasing the reactive oxygen species in two ways: through a genuine ferrocene effect and by inhibiting the thioredoxin reductase. Both complexes gave rise to a reorganization of the F-actin cytoskeleton in endothelial and melanoma cells, associated with a G1 phase cell cycle arrest and a retarded cell migration. They proved antiangiogenic in tube formation assays with endothelial cells and vascular-disruptive on real blood vessels in the chorioallantoic membrane of chicken eggs. Biscarbene complex 10 was also tolerated well by mice where it led to a volume reduction of xenograft tumors by up to 80 %.

Activation of Platinum(IV) Prodrugs by Cytochrome c and Characterization of the Protein Binding Sites.

Platinum(IV) complexes generally require reduction to reactive Pt(II) species to exert their chemotherapeutic activity. The process of reductive activation of (15)N-labeled (OC-6-43)-bis(acetato)diamminedichloridoplatinum(IV), in the presence of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and horse heart cytochrome c (cyt c), was monitored by (1)H,(15)N-HSQC NMR spectroscopy and protein digestion experiments. It has been shown that cyt c plays a catalytic role in the transfer of two reducing equivalents from NADH to Pt(IV) species. Noncovalent interactions between reduced monoaqua cisplatin (cis-[PtCl((15)NH3)2(H2O)](+)) and the protein, in the proximity of the heme cofactor, and also covalent binding of platinum to the protein region around Met65 and Met80 take place.

Internalization of Ineffective Platinum Complex in Nanocapsules Renders It Cytotoxic.

Anticancer therapy by platinum complexes, based on nanocarrier-based delivery, may offer a new approach to improve the efficacy and tolerability of the platinum family of anticancer drugs. The original rules for the design of new anticancer platinum drugs were affected by the fact that, although cisplatin (cis-[PtCl2 (NH3)2) was an anticancer drug, its isomer transplatin was not cytotoxic. For the first time, it is demonstrated that simple encapsulation of an inactive platinum compound in phospholipid bilayers transforms it into an efficient cytotoxic agent. Notably, the encapsulation of transplatin makes it possible to overcome the resistance mechanisms operating in cancer cells treated with cisplatin and prevents inactivation of transplatin in the extracellular environment. It is also shown that transplatin delivered to the cells in nanocapsules, in contrast to free (nonencapsulated) complex, forms cytotoxic cross-links on DNA.

Pt(iv) derivatives of cisplatin and oxaliplatin with phenylbutyrate axial ligands are potent cytotoxic agents that act by several mechanisms of action.

Our study demonstrates that Pt(iv) derivative of cisplatin, with two axial PhB ligands, ctc-[Pt(NH3)2(PhB)2Cl2], is a very potent cytotoxic agent against many different human cancer cell lines and is up to 100 fold more potent than cisplatin, and significantly more potent than the Pt(iv) derivatives of cisplatin with either two hydroxido, two acetato or two valproato ligands. The high potency of this compound (and some others) is due to several factors including enhanced internalization, probably driven by "synergistic accumulation" of both the Pt moiety and the phenylbutyrate, that correlates with enhanced DNA binding and cytotoxicity. ctc-[Pt(NH3)2(PhB)2Cl2] inhibits 60-70% HDAC activity in cancer cells, at levels below the IC50 values of PhB, suggesting synergism between Pt and PhB. Mechanistically, ctc-[Pt(NH3)2(PhB)2Cl2] induces activation of caspases (3 and 9) triggering apoptotic signaling via the mitochondrial pathway. Data also suggest that the antiproliferative effect of ctc-[Pt(NH3)2(PhB)2Cl2] may not depend of p53. Pt(iv) derivatives of cisplatin with either two axial PhB or valproate ligands are more potent than their oxaliplatin analogs. ctc-[Pt(NH3)2(PhB)2Cl2] is significantly more potent than its valproate analog ctc-[Pt(NH3)2(VPA)2Cl2]. These compounds combine multiple effects such as efficient uptake of both Pt and PhB with DNA binding, HDAC inhibition and activation of caspases to effectively kill cancer cells.