Structure-Related Mode-of-Action Differences of Anticancer Organoruthenium Complexes with β-Diketonates

J Med Chem. 2015 May 14;58(9):3984-96. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5b00288. Epub 2015 Apr 17.

Abstract

A series of organoruthenium(II) chlorido complexes with fluorinated O,O-ligands [(η(6)-p-cymene)Ru(F3C-acac-Ar)Cl] (1a-6a) and their respective 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (pta) derivatives [(η(6)-p-cymene)Ru(F3C-acac-Ar)pta]PF6 (1b-6b) were synthesized and fully characterized in both solution and solid state. All complexes were inactive against nonmalignant keratinocytes but displayed variable activity against cancer cell models (ovarian, osteosarcoma). Compounds with a ligand containing the 4-chlorophenyl substituent (6a and 6b) exhibited the strongest anticancer effects. Despite a marginally lower cellular Ru accumulation compared to the chlorido complexes, pta analogues showed higher activity especially in the osteosarcoma model. Reduction of glutathione levels by buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) significantly enhanced the activity of all compounds with the most pronounced effects being observed for the pta series resulting in IC50 values down to the nanomolar range. While all chlorido complexes potently induce reactive oxygen species, DNA damage, and apoptosis, the respective pta compounds widely lacked ROS production but blocked cell cycle progression in G0/G1 phase.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Coordination Complexes / chemical synthesis
  • Coordination Complexes / chemistry*
  • Coordination Complexes / pharmacology
  • Cymenes
  • DNA Damage / drug effects
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Glutathione / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Resting Phase, Cell Cycle / drug effects
  • Ruthenium*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • ((eta6-p-cymene)Ru(4,4,4-trifluoro-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-1,3-butanedione)-1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane)
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Coordination Complexes
  • Cymenes
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Ruthenium
  • Glutathione