Fighting Multidrug Resistance with Ruthenium-Cyclopentadienyl Compounds: Unveiling the Mechanism of P-gp Inhibition

J Med Chem. 2023 Oct 26;66(20):14080-14094. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01120. Epub 2023 Aug 24.

Abstract

The search for more effective and selective drugs to overcome cancer multidrug resistance is urgent. As such, a new series of ruthenium-cyclopentadienyl ("RuCp") compounds with the general formula [Ru(η5-C5H4R)(4,4'-R'-2,2'-bipy)(PPh3)] were prepared and fully characterized. All compounds were evaluated toward non-small cell lung cancer cells with different degrees of cisplatin sensitivity (A549, NCI-H2228, Calu-3, and NCI-H1975), showing better cytotoxicity than the first-line chemotherapeutic drug cisplatin. Compounds 2 and 3 (R' = -OCH3; R = CHO (2) or CH2OH (3)) further inhibited the activity of P-gp and MRP1 efflux pumps by impairing their catalytic activity. Molecular docking calculations identified the R-site P-gp pocket as the preferred one, which was further validated using site-directed mutagenesis experiments in P-gp. Altogether, our results unveil the first direct evidence of the interaction between P-gp and "RuCp" compounds in the modulation of P-gp activity and establish them as valuable candidates to circumvent cancer MDR.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents* / pharmacology
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cisplatin / pharmacology
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms*
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Ruthenium Compounds / pharmacology
  • Ruthenium* / pharmacology

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Ruthenium
  • Cisplatin
  • Ruthenium Compounds