Platinium coordination complexes in cancer chemotherapy

Cisplatin is a classical Pt-based anticancer drug that is widely used for the treatment of a broad spectrum of tumors. Its cytotoxicity is mediated mainly through interactions with DNA and inhibition of DNA synthesis and replication by formation of bifunctional interstrand and intrastrand cross links. Despite its success, the clinical usefulness of cisplatin is limited by its severe side eff ects such as dose-dependent nephrotoxicity, nausea and vomiting, ototoxicity, neurotoxicity, and myelosuppression. While there has been some success in lowering the toxicity of platinum drugs (carboplatin) and limited success in overcoming acquired cisplatin resistance (oxaliplatin) there has been little success in developing drugs that show activity in cancer cell lines that have a natural resistance to cisplatin and carboplatin. The need for alternatives to cisplatin has consequently inspired further work towards the development of novel platinum-based drugs with improved and or complementary properties. Some strategies have been applied during synthesis of new platinum drugs, such as the use of diff erent ligands (pikoplatin or satraplatin), in order to reduce side eff ects or increase the cytotoxicity potential of the drug. Another strategy is the synthesis of dinuclear or trinuclear platinum complexes (BBR3464 and berenil complexes of platinium(II)) which may decrease the action of the cellular repair machinery by forming different types of complex-DNA adducts.Istotną grupą leków przeciwnowotworowych są koordynacyjne związki platyny. Cisplatyna jest najstarszym przedstawicielem leków przeciwnowotworowych zawierających w swej strukturze platynę. Jej cytotoksyczność wynika przede wszystkim z kowalencyjnego wiązania do DNA, co w konsekwencji prowadzi do hamowania syntezy i replikacji DNA poprzez formowanie wewnątrz- i międzyniciowych wiązań krzyżowych. Przeciwwskazaniem do jej stosowania jest wysoka toksyczność leku, która powoduje występowanie licznych działań niepożądanych, takich jak wymioty, neuro- i nefrotoksyczność, ototoksyczność czy supresja szpiku kostnego zależna od dawki. Leki drugiej generacji, takie jak karboplatyna i oksaplatyna w ograniczonym stopniu zmniejszyły toksyczność i nabytą odporność niektórych nowotworów na pochodne platyny. Potrzeba posiadania leku o działaniu analogicznym do cisplatyny, jednak wywołującego mniej działań niepożądanych i wykazującego szersze spektrum działania, powoduje stały rozwój prac nad nowymi przeciwnowotworowymi kompleksami platyny. Zmianę właściwości biologicznych można osiągnąć modyfi kując otoczenie koordynacyjne w kompleksach platyny. Wprowadzenie grupy 2-metylopirydyny w pikoplatynie czy też obecność cykloheksyloaminy w satraplatynie doprowadziło do otrzymania związków o wysokiej aktywności w stosunku do nowotworów cisplatynoopornych. Inną strategią jest synteza dwurdzeniowych i trzyrdzeniowych kompleksów platyny, takich jak BBR3464 i berenilowe kompleksy platyny (II). Zakłada się, że wielordzeniowe kompleksy platyny wiążące się w odmienny sposób niż cisplatyna z DNA będą posiadały szerokie spektrum aktywności przeciwnowotworowej przy niskiej toksyczności

Multi-Targeting Anticancer Activity of a New 4-Thiazolidinone Derivative with Anti-HER2 Antibodies in Human AGS Gastric Cancer Cells

Combining chemotherapy with immunotherapy still remains a regimen in anticancer therapy. Novel 4-thiazolidinone-bearing hybrid molecules possess well-documented anticancer activity, and together with anti-HER2 antibodies, may represent a promising strategy in treating patients with gastric cancer with confirmed human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expression. The aim of the study was to synthesize a new 4-thiazolidinone derivative (Les-4367) and investigate its molecular mechanism of action in combination with trastuzumab or pertuzumab in human AGS gastric cancer cells. AGS cell viability and antiproliferative potential were examined. The effect of the tested combinations as well as monotherapy on apoptosis and autophagy was also determined. Metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine concentrations were also demonstrated by the ELISA technique. We proved that pertuzumab and trastuzumab were very effective in increasing the sensitivity of AGS gastric cancer cells to novel Les-4367. The molecular mechanism of action of the tested combination is connected with the induction of apoptosis. Additionally, the anticancer activity is not associated with the autophagy process. Decreased concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines, MMP-2 and ICAM-1—were observed. The novel combination of drugs based on anti-HER2 antibodies with Les-4367 is a promising strategy against AGS gastric cancer cells

Atherosclerotic Risk Factors in Children with Celiac Disease

Introduction and Objectives. Celiac disease (CD) is a complex autoimmune disorder occurring in genetically susceptible individuals. There is limited data on the impact of gluten-free diet (GFD) on the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. Hereby, we present our study regarding the impact of treatment with GFD on the biochemical risk factors of atherosclerosis. Material and Methods. 277 patients with CD from 7 Polish clinics were enrolled in the study (210 children treated for at least 5 years and 67 children included in the study on the day of CD diagnosis and observed for 1 year on a GFD). We obtained selected clinical data, and we assessed lipid profile, apolipoproteins (A1, B, and E), lipoprotein (a), homocysteine, as well as antioxidants (folic and uric acid), and high-sensitivity CRP (hsCRP) for all patients. The compliance to GFD was verified using anti-transglutaminase antibodies and deamidated gliadin peptide antibodies. As a reference group, the data of 95 healthy children recruited for another project was used, for which we had the results of selected parameters. Results. We found significantly lower concentrations of total cholesterol, lipoprotein LDL-C, apolipoproteins A1 and B, as well as hCRP in all children with CD. We showed decreased level (5 years. Moreover, we showed significant decrease of folic acid level already after 1 year of a GFD (12 vs. 5.6 ng/mL; p<0.001). We also found significant negative correlation of z-score body mass index (BMI) with HDL and APOA1 level (r=−0.33; p=0.015 and r=−0.28; p=0.038, respectively) and modest positive correlation of z-score BMI with atherogenic factor of total cholesterol-HDL ratio and LDL-HDL ratio (r=0.40; p=0.002 and r=0.36; p=0.006, respectively). Analysis of physical activity showed an increase in the insulin levels with inactivity (r=0.36; p=0.0025). We also found positive correlation of the sleep duration with the adiponectin level (r=0.41; p=0.011). Conclusions. In children with CD treated with a GFD, decreased level of folic acid together with increased BMI, sedentary behavior, and an improper lipid profile may predispose them to atherosclerosis in the long run. This data suggests the need of further studies to determine the need for metabolic cardiovascular risk screening in children with CD