Structure-activity relationships of targeted RuII(η6-p-cymene) anticancer complexes with flavonol-derived ligands

J Med Chem. 2012 Dec 13;55(23):10512-22. doi: 10.1021/jm301376a. Epub 2012 Nov 19.

Abstract

RuII(arene) complexes have been shown to be promising anticancer agents, capable of overcoming major drawbacks of currently used chemotherapeutics. We have synthesized RuII(η6-arene) compounds carrying bioactive flavonol ligands with the aim to obtain multitargeted anticancer agents. To validate this concept, studies on the mode of action of the complexes were conducted which indicated that they form covalent bonds to DNA, have only minor impact on the cell cycle, but inhibit CDK2 and topoisomerase IIα in vitro. The cytotoxic activity was determined in human cancer cell lines, resulting in very low IC50 values as compared to other RuII(arene) complexes and showing a structure-activity relationship dependent on the substitution pattern of the flavonol ligand. Furthermore, the inhibition of cell growth correlates well with the topoisomerase inhibitory activity. Compared to the flavonol ligands, the RuII(η6-p-cymene) complexes are more potent antiproliferative agents, which can be explained by potential multitargeted properties.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • DNA Topoisomerases, Type II / drug effects
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Flavonols / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Models, Molecular
  • Ruthenium Compounds / chemistry*
  • Ruthenium Compounds / pharmacology*
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Flavonols
  • Ligands
  • Ruthenium Compounds
  • CDK2 protein, human
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2
  • DNA Topoisomerases, Type II