Molecular interactions of ruthenium complexes in isolated mammalian nuclei and cytotoxicity on V79 cells in culture

A Dual-Pronged Approach: A Ruthenium(III) Complex That Modulates Amyloid-β Aggregation and Disrupts Its Formed Aggregates

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating neurological disorder for which soluble oligomers of the peptide amyloid-β (Aβ) are now recognized as the neurotoxic species. Metal-based therapeutics are uniquely suited to target Aβ, with ruthenium-based (Ru) complexes emerging as propitious candidates. Recently, azole-based Ru(III) complexes were observed to modulate the aggregation of Aβ in solution, where the inclusion of a primary amine proximal to the ligand coordination site improved the activity of the complexes. To advance these structure-activity relationships, a series of oxazole-based Ru complexes were prepared and evaluated for their ability to modulate Aβ aggregation. From these studies, a lead candidate, Oc, emerged that had superior activity relative to its azole predecessors in modulating the aggregation of soluble Aβ and diminishing its cytotoxicity. Further evaluation of Oc demonstrated its ability to disrupt formed Aβ aggregates, resulting in smaller amorphous species. Because altering both sides of the aggregation equilibrium for Aβ has not been previously suggested for metal-based complexes for AD, this work represents an exciting new avenue for improved therapeutic success.

Recent Developments in Oxazole Derivatives as Anticancer Agents: Review on Synthetic Strategies, Mechanism of Action and SAR studies

BACKGROUND

Cancer is the world's third deadliest disease. Despite the availability of numerous treatments, researchers are focusing on the development of new drugs lacking resistance and toxicity issues. Many newly synthesized drugs fail to reach clinical trials due to poor pharmacokinetic properties. Therefore, there is an imperative requisite to expand novel anticancer agents with in vivo efficacy.

OBJECTIVE

This review emphasizes synthetic methods, contemporary strategies used for the inclusion of oxazole moiety, mechanistic targets along with comprehensive structure-activity relationship studies to provide perspective into the rational design of highly efficient oxazole-based anticancer drugs.

METHODS

Literature related to oxazole derivatives engaged in cancer research is reviewed. This article gives a detailed account of synthetic strategies, targets of oxazole in cancer, including STAT3, Microtubules, G-quadruplex, DNA topoisomerases, DNA damage, Protein kinases, miscellaneous targets, in vitro studies, and some SAR studies.

RESULTS

Oxazole derivatives possess potent anticancer activity by inhibiting novel targets such as STAT3 and G-quadruplex. Oxazoles also inhibit tubulin protein to induce apoptosis in cancer cells. Some other targets such as DNA topoisomerase enzyme, protein kinases, and miscellaneous targets including Cdc25, mitochondrial enzymes, HDAC, LSD1, HPV E2 TAD, NQO1, Aromatase, BCl-6, Estrogen receptor, GRP-78, and Keap-Nrf2 pathway are inhibited by oxazole derivatives Many derivatives showed excellent potencies on various cancer cell lines with IC50 values in nanomolar concentrations.

CONCLUSION

Oxazole is a five-membered heterocycle, with oxygen and nitrogen at 1 and 3 positions respectively. It is often combined with other pharmacophores in the expansion of novel anticancer drugs. In summary, oxazole is a promising entity to develop new anticancer drugs.

A comprehensive review on biological activities of oxazole derivatives

The utility of oxazole as intermediates for the synthesis of new chemical entities in medicinal chemistry have been increased in the past few years. Oxazole is an important heterocyclic nucleus having a wide spectrum of biological activities which drew the attention of researchers round the globe to synthesize various oxazole derivatives and screen them for their various biological activities. The present review article aims to review the work reported on therapeutic potentials of oxazole scaffolds which are valuable for medical applications during new millennium.

Interactions of arene ruthenium metallaprisms with human proteins

Interactions between three hexacationic arene ruthenium metallaprisms and human proteins have been studied using NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and circular dichroism spectroscopy, showing that proteins are potential biological targets for these metallaprisms.

Phase I/II study with ruthenium compound NAMI-A and gemcitabine in patients with non-small cell lung cancer after first line therapy

BACKGROUND

This phase I/II study determined the maximal tolerable dose, dose limiting toxicities, antitumor activity, the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of ruthenium compound NAMI-A in combination with gemcitabine in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer patients after first line treatment.

METHODS

Initial dose escalation of NAMI-A was performed in a 28 day cycle: NAMI-A as a 3 h infusion through a port-a-cath at a starting dose of 300 mg/m(2) at day 1, 8 and 15, in combination with gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m(2) at days 2, 9 and 16. Subsequently, dose escalation of NAMI-A in a 21 day schedule was explored. At the maximal tolerable dose level of this schedule an expansion group was enrolled of which 15 patients were evaluable for response.

RESULTS

Due to frequent neutropenic dose interruptions in the third week, the 28 day schedule was amended into a 21 day schedule. The maximal tolerable dose was 300 and 450 mg/m(2) of NAMI-A (21 day schedule). Main adverse events consisted of neutropenia, anemia, elevated liver enzymes, transient creatinine elevation, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, fatigue, and renal toxicity.

CONCLUSION

NAMI-A administered in combination with gemcitabine is only moderately tolerated and less active in NSCLC patients after first line treatment than gemcitabine alone.

Synthesis, DNA-binding and photocleavage studies of [Ru(phen)2(pbtp)]2+ and [Ru(bpy)2(pbtp)]2+ (phen=1,10-phenanthroline; bpy=2,2'-bipyridine; pbtp=4,5,9,11,14-pentaaza-benzo[b]triphenylene)

Based on the ligand dppz (dppz=dipyrido-[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine), a new ligand pbtp (pbtp=4,5,9,11,14-pentaaza-benzo[b]triphenylene) and its polypyridyl ruthenium(II) complexes [Ru(phen)(2)(pbtp)](2+) (1) (phen=1,10-phenanthroline and [Ru(bpy)(2)(pbtp)](2+) (2) (bpy=2,2'-bipyridine) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, ES-MS and (1)H NMR spectroscopy. The DNA-binding of these complexes were investigated by spectroscopic methods and viscosity measurements. The experimental results indicate that both complexes 1 and 2 bind to CT-DNA in classical intercalation mode, and can enantioselectively interact with CT-DNA. It is interesting to note that the pbtp ruthenium(II) complexes, in contrast to the analogous dppz complexes, do not show fluorescent behavior when intercalated into DNA. When irradiated at 365 nm, both complexes promote the photocleavage of pBR 322 DNA.

Synthesis and anticancer activity of certain mononuclear Ru (II) Complexes

Bis(1,10-phenanthroline/2,2'-bipyridine) ruthenium(II)complexes containing TCP, TTZ OPBI, and BTSC ligands (where, TCP = 1-thiocarbamoyl-3,5-diphenyl-2-pyrazoline, TTZ = 2-(3,5-diphenyl-4,5-dihydropyrazol-1-yl)-4-phenylthiazole, OPBI = 2-hydroxyphenyl benzimidazole and BTSC = benzoin thiosemicarbazone) have been prepared and characterized. The spectral data suggested that the ligands were coordinated with the metal through nitrogen, sulfur and oxygen atoms. The target complexes were tested in vivo for anticancer activity against transplantable murine tumor cell line, Ehrlich's Ascitic Carcinoma (EAC). All these complexes increased the life span of the EAC-bearing mice, decreased their tumor volume and viable ascitic cell count as well as improved Hb, RBC and WBC counts. These results suggest that the Ru(II) complexes exhibit significant antitumor activity in EAC-bearing mice. It was also observed that the ruthenium complexes protected red blood cells from 2,2'-azo-bis(2-methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride (AAPH)- induced hemolysis. The inhibitory effect was dose-dependent at a concentration of 20-120 microg/ml.

Kinetics and mechanism of the reduction of (ImH)[trans-RuCl4(dmso)(Im)] by ascorbic acid in acidic aqueous solution

A systematic study of the reduction of (ImH)[trans-RuCl(4)(dmso)(Im)] (NAMI-A; dmso is dimethyl sulfoxide, Im is imidazole), a promising antimetastasing agent entering phase II clinical trial, by L-ascorbic acid is reported. The rapid reduction of trans-[Ru(III)Cl(4)(dmso)(Im)](-) results in formation of trans-[Ru(II)Cl(4)(dmso)(Im)](2-) in acidic medium (pH = 5.0) and is followed by successive dissociation of the chloride ligands, which cannot be suppressed even in the presence of a large excess of chloride ions. The reduction of NAMI-A strongly depends on pH and is accelerated on increasing the pH. Over the small pH range 4.9-5.1, the reaction is quite pH-independent and the influence of temperature and pressure on the reaction could be studied. On the basis of the reported activation parameters and other experimental data, it is suggested that the redox process follows an outer-sphere electron transfer mechanism. A small contribution from a parallel reaction ascribed to inner-sphere reduction of aqua derivatives of NAMI-A, was found to be favored by lower concentrations of the NAMI-A complex and higher temperature. In the absence of an excess of chloride ions, the reduction process is catalyzed by the Ru(II) products being formed. The reduction of NAMI-A is also catalyzed by Cu(II) ions and the apparent catalytic rate constant was found to be 1.5 x 10(6) M(-2) s(-1) at 25 degrees C.

Analysis in vivo of antitumor activity, Cytotoxicity and Interaction between plasmid DNA and the cis-dichlorotetraammineruthenium(III) chloride

Several metallic compounds recognized as potent antitumor agents, have been developed and tested in vivo and in vitro. In this work, we evaluated the toxic, therapeutic, and cytotoxic properties of the cis-dichloro-tetra-amine-ruthenium(III) chloride. Transplanted animals with Sarcoma 180 cells were treated with ruthenium(III) complex and injected i.p., at different time intervals. After the 15th day, tumoral postimplant, the animals were sacrificed and their lungs, kidneys, liver, and tumors were removed and processed for histopathological analysis. Blood samples were also taken for haematological and biochemical analyses. Interaction between the ruthenium complex and the DNA was also investigated. Besides being cytotoxic for the S180 cells, the metallic compound induced tumoral volume reduction and increased survival time of the animals treated. Serum levels of LDH, creatinine, and bilirubin increased, but no serious irreversible histopathological alterations were observed in the analyzed tissues. The compound did not cause anemia, but reduced the number of leukocytes in the treated animals. The absence of viable S180 cells, necrotic cells, and the presence of granulation tissue were observed in tumor tissue of treated animals. The Ru(III) complex, in the presence of the reduction agent, caused plasmid DNA to fragment. These results suggest that cis-RuCl(2)(NH(3))(4)Cl compound is a potent antitumoral drug in vitro and in vivo, which seems to involve binding to DNA molecule.

Ruthenium complexes can target determinants of tumour malignancy

Metastases are more decisive for tumour prognosis than primary lesions, because of their multiple locations, low accessibility to surgery and/or radiotherapy, and generally poor responsiveness to chemotherapy. The metastasis should therefore be the primary target for drug therapy. Among ruthenium complexes, NAMI-A is a leading compound that shows selective effects for solid tumour metastases related to a mechanism of action involving the inhibition of the processes of tumour invasiveness. NAMI-A opens an avenue to new perspectives in cancer chemotherapy. This includes novel compounds directed at targets selectively expressed by tumour metastases, thus reducing the typical side effects of the current metal-based drugs that are active via their unselective DNA interaction.

Cytotoxicity of the organic ruthenium anticancer drug Nami-A is correlated with DNA binding in four different human tumor cell lines

PURPOSE

The cytotoxicity, intracellular accumulation and DNA adduct formation of the ruthenium complex imidazolium trans-imidazoledimethylsulfoxide tetrachlororuthenate (ImH[ trans-RuCl(4)(DMSO)Im], Nami-A) were compared in vitro with those of cisplatin in four human tumor cell lines: Igrov-1, 2008, MCF-7, and T47D.

METHODS

Cytotoxicity was assessed in vitro using a growth inhibition assay. Accumulation was determined by flameless atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). GG and AG intrastrand adducts were measured using the (32)P-postlabeling assay.

RESULTS

Nami-A was on average 1053 times less cytotoxic than cisplatin. The cytotoxicity of cisplatin was linearly related to both intracellular platinum accumulation and DNA binding, while the cytotoxicity of Nami-A was significantly related only to DNA binding and not to intracellular ruthenium accumulation. The levels of accumulation of Nami-A measured as ruthenium and of cisplatin measured as platinum were correlated linearly with the incubation concentration over a concentration range of 0 to 600 micro M of both drugs. Ruthenium intracellular accumulation and DNA binding were on average 4.8 and 42 times less, respectively, than those of cisplatin. In addition, the numbers of GG and AG intrastrand adducts induced by Nami-A were 418 and 51 times fewer, respectively. Nami-A and cisplatin had the same binding capacity to calf thymus DNA. Nami-A was 25-40% less bound to cellular proteins than cisplatin.

CONCLUSIONS

There was no saturation of the uptake and DNA binding capacity of either Nami-A or cisplatin. Furthermore, the low binding of Nami-A to cellular DNA cannot simply be explained by a lower capacity to bind to DNA, because the absolute level of binding in vitro to calf thymus DNA was the same for Nami-A and cisplatin. Finally, the lower cytotoxicity of Nami-A on a molar basis than that of cisplatin can at least partly be explained by its reduced reactivity to DNA in intact cells.

Distinct effects of dinuclear ruthenium(III) complexes on cell proliferation and on cell cycle regulation in human and murine tumor cell lines

We have examined the biological and antitumor activity of a series of dinuclear ruthenium complexes. The aim of this study was to compare the in vitro effects of these new compounds on cell proliferation, cell distribution among cell cycle phases, and the expression of some proteins involved in cell cycle regulation. Results obtained show a mild cytotoxic activity against human and murine cell lines, more evident after prolonged exposure of cell challenge. Two of the eight dinuclear complexes [namely, compounds D3 (Na(2)[(RuCl(4)(dmso-S))(2)(mu-bipy)]) and D7 ([NH(4)][(RuCl(4)(dmso-S))(mu-pyz)(RuCl(3)(dmso-S)(dmso-O))]) modify cell cycle distribution similarly to imidazolium trans-imidazoledimethylsulfoxidetetrachlororuthenate (NAMI-A), whereas the others have a low or negligible effect on this parameter. If we correlate the induction of cell cycle modifications with ruthenium uptake by tumor cells and with the modulation of proteins regulating cell cycle, we may stress that the induction of G(2)-M cell cycle arrest is related to the achievement of a threshold concentration of ruthenium inside the cells, which is dependent on the cell line being used, and that only cyclin B, among cell cycle regulating proteins examined by immunoblotting assays, appears to be significantly modified. This in vitro study shows that dinuclear ruthenium complexes may have a behavior similar to that of the monomer NAMI-A. These results encourage the future experimentation of their pharmacological properties in in vivo models.

Interactions of two cytotoxic organotin(IV) compounds with calf thymus DNA

The reactions with DNA of two antitumor active organotin(IV) compounds, the dimer of bis[(di-n-butyl 3,6-dioxaheptanoato)tin] (C(52)H(108)Sn(4)O(1) x 2H(2)O), compound 1, and tri-n-butyltin 3,6,9-trioxodecanoate (C(19)H(40)SnO(5) x 1/2H(2)O), compound 2, were analysed by circular dichroism, DNA melting experiments and gel mobility shift assays. It is found that both complexes modify only slightly the B-type circular dichroism spectroscopy (CD) spectrum of calf thymus DNA. On the other hand, both complexes were found to affect significantly the parameters of the thermally induced helix-to-coil transition. Addition of 1 or 2 to calf thymus DNA samples does not favor DNA renaturation after melting ruling out formation of interstrand crosslinks. Moreover, the effects of both compounds on plasmid DNA gel mobility were investigated. From the analysis of the present results it is inferred that both organotin(IV) compounds do interact with DNA, probably at the level of the phosphate groups.

Antimetastatic properties and DNA interactions of the novel class of dimeric Ru(III) compounds Na2[[trans-RuCl4(Me2SO)]2(mu-L)] (L = ditopic, non-chelating aromatic N-ligand). A preliminary investigation

A novel class of dianionic Ru(III) dimers of formula Na2[[trans-RuCl4(Me2SO)]2(mu-L)], with L = pyrazine (pyz, 1), pyrimidine (pym, 2), 4,4'-bipyridine (bipy, 3), and 1,2-bis(4-pyridine) ethane (etbipy, 4), was developed by us with the specific aim of assessing their antitumor properties. The dimers are in fact structurally related to the antimetastatic mononuclear compound (ImH) [trans-RuCl4(Me2SO)(Im)] (NAMI-A, Im = imidazole). Preliminary results concerning the antineoplastic activity of 1-4 against the murine MCa carcinoma model, a tumor which spontaneously metastasizes in the lungs, are reported. Similarly to what is normally observed with NAMI-A, the treatment with the dimeric complexes was scarcely effective against the growth of the primary tumor. However, dimers 1, 2, and 4 reduced very effectively the number and, in particular, the weight of lung metastases (to about 5% with respect to controls); in particular, Na2[[trans-RuCl4(Me2SO)]2(mu-etbipy)] (4) was as effective as NAMI-A in reducing the spontaneous metastases at a dosage which, in terms of moles of ruthenium, is about 3.5 times lower compared to that normally used for NAMI-A. Furthermore, in vitro tests showed that dimers 1-4 are capable of forming interstrand cross-links with linearized plasmidic DNA in a time-dependent manner. All the dimeric species are more active in inducing cross-links compared to NAMI-A, and the dimer bridged by the etbipy ligand (4) is the most effective among those tested.

DNA as a possible target for antitumor ruthenium(III) complexes

The interaction of two experimental ruthenium(III)-containing antitumor complexes-Na[trans-RuCl(4)(DMSO)(Im)] (NAMI) and dichloro(1,2-propylendiaminetetraacetate)ruthenium(III) (RAP)-with DNA was investigated through a number of spectroscopic and molecular biology techniques, including spectrophotometry, circular dichroism, gel shift analysis, and restriction enzyme inhibition. It was found that both complexes slightly alter DNA conformation, modify its electrophoretic mobility, and inhibit DNA recognition and cleavage by some restriction enzymes, though they were less effective than cisplatin in producing such effects. Notably, the effects produced by NAMI on DNA were much larger than those induced by RAP. Implications of these results for the mechanism of action of ruthenium(III) antitumor complexes are discussed.