Due to similar coordination chemistry of palladium and platinum, a large number of palladium compounds as well have been investigated for their anticancer activity. In the present study, we describe synthesis, characterization, and anticancer activity of palladium complex [Bis(1,8-quinolato)palladium (II)], coded as NH3 against seven different cancer cell lines. NH3 is found to have higher antitumor activity than cisplatin against both parent ovarian A2780 cell line and cisplatin-resistant cell lines. Also, NH3 has the lower IC50 value in HT-29 colorectal cancer cell line. The higher antitumor activity of NH3 is due to the presence of bulky 8-Hydroxyquinoline ligand, thus reducing its reactivity. Proteomic study has identified significantly expressed proteins which have been validated through bioinformatics. NH3 has been found to be less toxic than cisplatin at 2.5 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg dosages on mice models. Binary combinations of NH3 with curcumin and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) have demonstrated dose and sequence-dependent synergism in ovarian and colorectal cancer models. All of the preclinical studies indicate promising therapeutic potential of NH3 [Bis(1,8-quinolato)palladium (II)] as an anticancer drug.
Keywords: 8-Hydroxyquinoline; cancer; palladium; proteomics.