Multi-targeting of oncoproteins by a single molecule represents an effectual, rational, and an alternative approach to target therapy. We carried out a systematic study to reveal the mechanisms of action of newly synthesized Cu2+ compounds of 2-naphthalenol and 1-(((2-pyridinylmethyl)imino)methyl)- (C1 and C2). The antiproliferative activity of the as-synthesized complexes in three human cancer cell lines indicates their potential as multi-targeted antitumor agents. Relatively, C1 and C2 showed better efficacy in vitro relative to Cisplatin and presented promising levels of toxicity against A-549 cells. On the whole, the Cu2+ complexes exhibited chemotherapeutic effects by generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) and arresting the cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase by competent regulation of cyclin and cyclin-dependent kinases. Fascinatingly, the Cu2+ complexes were shown to activate the apoptotic and autophagic pathways in A-549 cells. These complexes effectively induced endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated apoptosis, inhibited topoisomerase-1, and damaged cancer DNA through a ROS-mediated mechanism. The synthesized Cu2+ complexes established ROS-mediated targeting of multiple cell signaling pathways as a fabulous route for the inhibition of cancer cell growth.
Keywords: 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde; Cu(II) complex; anticancer mechanism; cytotoxicity.