Inhibition of NF-κB-Mediated Proinflammatory Transcription by Ru(II) Complexes of Anti-Angiogenic Ligands in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

J Med Chem. 2024 Apr 11;67(7):5902-5923. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00169. Epub 2024 Mar 23.

Abstract

Nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-κB) plays a pivotal role in breast cancer, particularly triple-negative breast cancer, by promoting inflammation, proliferation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, metastasis, and drug resistance. Upregulation of NF-κB boosts vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression, assisting angiogenesis. The Ru(II) complexes of methyl- and dimethylpyrazolyl-benzimidazole N,N donors inhibit phosphorylation of ser536 in p65 and translocation of the NF-κB heterodimer (p50/p65) to the nucleus, disabling transcription to upregulate inflammatory signaling. The methyl- and dimethylpyrazolyl-benzimidazole inhibit VEGFR2 phosphorylation at Y1175, disrupting downstream signaling through PLC-γ and ERK1/2, ultimately suppressing Ca(II)-signaling. Partial release of the antiangiogenic ligand in a reactive oxygen species-rich environment is possible as per our observation to inhibit both NF-κB and VEGFR2 by the complexes. The complexes are nontoxic to zebrafish embryos up to 50 μM, but the ligands show strong in vivo antiangiogenic activity at 3 μM during embryonic growth in Tg(fli1:GFP) zebrafish but no visible effect on the adult phase.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Benzimidazoles / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • NF-kappa B* / metabolism
  • Transcription Factor RelA / metabolism
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Zebrafish / metabolism

Substances

  • NF-kappa B
  • Transcription Factor RelA
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Ligands
  • Benzimidazoles