Cycloplatinated (II) Complex Based on Isoquinoline Alkaloid Elicits Ferritinophagy-Dependent Ferroptosis in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells

J Med Chem. 2024 Apr 25;67(8):6738-6748. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00285. Epub 2024 Mar 25.

Abstract

The development and optimization of metal-based anticancer drugs with novel cytotoxic mechanisms have emerged as key strategies to overcome chemotherapeutic resistance and side effects. Agents that simultaneously induce ferroptosis and autophagic death have received extensive attention as potential modalities for cancer therapy. However, only a limited set of drugs or treatment modalities can synergistically induce ferroptosis and autophagic tumor cell death. In this work, we designed and synthesized four new cycloplatinated (II) complexes harboring an isoquinoline alkaloid CN ligand. On screening the in vitro activity of these agents, we found that Pt-3 exhibited greater selectivity of cytotoxicity, decreased resistance factors, and improved anticancer activity compared to cisplatin. Furthermore, Pt-3, which we demonstrate can initiate potent ferritinophagy-dependent ferroptosis, exhibits less toxic and better therapeutic activity than cisplatin in vivo. Our results identify Pt-3 as a promising candidate or paradigm for further drug development in cancer treatment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alkaloids / chemical synthesis
  • Alkaloids / chemistry
  • Alkaloids / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / pharmacology
  • Autophagy / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Coordination Complexes / chemical synthesis
  • Coordination Complexes / chemistry
  • Coordination Complexes / pharmacology
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Female
  • Ferritins / metabolism
  • Ferroptosis* / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Isoquinolines* / chemical synthesis
  • Isoquinolines* / chemistry
  • Isoquinolines* / pharmacology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms* / metabolism
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms* / pathology

Substances

  • Isoquinolines
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Ferritins
  • Coordination Complexes
  • Alkaloids
  • isoquinoline