Anticancer Melatplatin Prodrugs: High Effect and Low Toxicity, MT1-ER-Target and Immune Response In Vivo

J Med Chem. 2020 Jun 11;63(11):6096-6106. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00343. Epub 2020 May 22.

Abstract

Multitargeted therapy could rectify various oncogenic pathways to block tumorigenesis and progression. The combination of endocrine-, immune-, and chemotherapy might exert a highly synergistic effect against certain tumors. Herein, a series of smart Pt(IV) prodrugs 3-6, named Melatplatin, were rationally designed not only to multitarget DNA, MT1, and estrogen receptor (ER) but also to activate immune response. Melatplatin, conjugating first-line chemotherapeutic Pt drugs with human endogenous melatonin (MT), significantly enhanced drug efficacy especially in ER high-expression (ER+) cells, among which 3 presented the most potent cytotoxicity toward ER+ MCF-7 with nanomolar IC50 values 100-fold lower than cisplatin. Melatplatin could bind well to melatonin receptor (MT1) according to molecular docking. Besides, 3 evidently increased intracellular accumulation and DNA damage, upregulated γH2AX and P53, and silenced NF-κB to induce massive apoptosis. Most strikingly, 3 effectively inhibited tumor growth and attenuated systemic toxicity compared to cisplatin in vivo, promoting lymphocyte proliferation in spleen to achieve immune modulation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Binding Sites
  • Cell Cycle Checkpoints / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • DNA Damage / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Immune System / drug effects
  • Immune System / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • NF-kappa B / antagonists & inhibitors
  • NF-kappa B / genetics
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Platinum / chemistry*
  • Prodrugs / chemistry*
  • Prodrugs / pharmacology
  • Prodrugs / therapeutic use
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Receptor, Melatonin, MT1 / chemistry
  • Receptor, Melatonin, MT1 / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Estrogen / chemistry
  • Receptors, Estrogen / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • NF-kappa B
  • Prodrugs
  • Receptor, Melatonin, MT1
  • Receptors, Estrogen
  • Platinum