Consolidating Organometallic Complex Ir-CA Empowers Mitochondria-Directed Chemotherapy against Resistant Cancer via Stemness and Metastasis Inhibition

Inorg Chem. 2024 Mar 18;63(11):5235-5245. doi: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.4c00321. Epub 2024 Mar 7.

Abstract

Cancer treatment has faced severe obstacles due to the smart biological system of cancer cells. Herein, we report a three-in-one agent Ir-CA via attenuation of cancer cell stemness with the down-regulated biomarker CD133 expression from the mitochondria-directed chemotherapy. Over 80% of Ir-CA could accumulate in mitochondria, result in severe mitochondrial dysfunctions, and subsequently initiate mitophagy and cell cycle arrest to kill cisplatin-resistant A549R cells. In vitro and in vivo antimetastatic experiments demonstrated that Ir-CA can effectively inhibit metastasis with down-regulated MMP-2/MMP-9. RNA seq analysis and Western blotting indicated that Ir-CA also suppresses the GSTP1 expression to decrease the intracellular Pt-GS adducts, resulting in the detoxification and resensitization to cisplatin of A549R cells. In vivo evaluation indicated that Ir-CA restrains the tumor growth and has minimal side effects and superior biocompatibility. This work not only provides the first three-in-one agent to attenuate cancer cell stemness and simultaneously realize anticancer, antimetastasis, and conquer metallodrug resistance but also demonstrates the effectiveness of the mitochondria-directed strategy in cancer treatment.

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents* / metabolism
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis
  • Cell Cycle
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cisplatin / pharmacology
  • Mitochondria
  • Neoplasms* / metabolism

Substances

  • Cisplatin
  • Antineoplastic Agents