Organometallic Titanocene–Gold Compounds as Potential Chemotherapeutics in Renal Cancer. Study of their Protein Kinase Inhibitory Properties

Early–late transition metal TiAu₂ compounds [(η-C₅H₅)₂Ti­{OC­(O)­CH₂PPh₂AuCl}₂] (<b>3</b>) and new [(η-C₅H₅)₂Ti­{OC­(O)-4-C₆H₄­PPh₂AuCl}₂] (<b>5</b>) were evaluated as potential anticancer agents <i>in vitro</i> against renal and prostate cancer cell lines. The compounds were significantly more effective than monometallic titanocene dichloride and gold­(I) [{HOC­(O)­RPPh₂}­AuCl] (R = −CH₂– <b>6</b>, −4-C₆H₄– <b>7</b>) derivatives in renal cancer cell lines, indicating a synergistic effect of the resulting heterometallic species. The activity on renal cancer cell lines (for <b>5</b> in the nanomolar range) was considerably higher than that of cisplatin and highly active titanocene Y. Initial mechanistic studies in Caki-1 cells <i>in vitro</i> coupled with studies of their inhibitory properties on a panel of 35 kinases of oncological interest indicate that these compounds inhibit protein kinases of the AKT and MAPKAPK families with a higher selectivity toward MAPKAPK3 (IC₅₀ <b>3</b> = 91 nM, IC₅₀ <b>5</b> = 117 nM). The selectivity of the compounds <i>in vitro</i> against renal cancer cell lines when compared to a nontumorigenic human embryonic kidney cell line (HEK-293T) and the favorable preliminary toxicity profile on C57black6 mice indicate that these compounds (especially <b>5</b>) are excellent candidates for further development as potential renal cancer chemotherapeutics

In Vitro and in Vivo Evaluation of Water-Soluble Iminophosphorane Ruthenium(II) Compounds. A Potential Chemotherapeutic Agent for Triple Negative Breast Cancer

A series of organometallic ruthenium­(II) complexes containing iminophosphorane ligands have been synthesized and characterized. Cationic compounds with chloride as counterion are soluble in water (70–100 mg/mL). Most compounds (especially highly water-soluble <b>2</b>) are more cytotoxic to a number of human cancer cell lines than cisplatin. Initial mechanistic studies indicate that the cell death type for these compounds is mainly through canonical or caspase-dependent apoptosis, nondependent on p53, and that the compounds do not interact with DNA or inhibit protease cathepsin B. In vivo experiments of <b>2</b> on MDA-MB-231 xenografts in NOD.CB17-Prkdc SCID/J mice showed an impressive tumor reduction (shrinkage) of 56% after 28 days of treatment (14 doses of 5 mg/kg every other day) with low systemic toxicity. Pharmacokinetic studies showed a quick absorption of <b>2</b> in plasma with preferential accumulation in the breast tumor tissues when compared to kidney and liver, which may explain its high efficacy in vivo