Tamoxifen-like metallocifens target thioredoxin system determining mitochondrial impairment leading to apoptosis in Jurkat cells

Tamoxifen-like metallocifens (TLMs) of the group-8 metals (Fe, Ru, and Os) show strong anti-proliferative activity on cancer cell lines resistant to apoptosis, owing to their unique redox properties. In contrast, the thioredoxin system, which is involved in cellular redox balance, is often overexpressed in cancer cells, especially in tumour types resistant to standard chemotherapies. Therefore, we investigated the effect of these three TLMs on the thioredoxin system and evaluated the input of the metallocene unit in comparison with structurally related organic tamoxifens. In vitro, all three TLMs became strong inhibitors of the cytosolic (TrxR1) and mitochondrial (TrxR2) isoforms of thioredoxin reductase after enzymatic oxidation with HRP/H2O2 while none of the organic analogues was effective. In Jurkat cells, TLMs inhibited mainly TrxR2, resulting in the accumulation of oxidized thioredoxin 2 and cell redox imbalance. Overproduction of ROS resulted in a strong decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential, translocation of cytochrome c to the cytosol and activation of caspase 3, thus leading to apoptosis. None of these events occurred with organic tamoxifens. The mitochondrial fraction of cells exposed to TLMs contained a high amount of the corresponding metal, as quantified by ICP-OES. The lipophilic and cationic character associated with the singular redox properties of the TLMs could explain why they alter the mitochondrial function. These results provide new insights into the mechanism of action of tamoxifen-like metallocifens, underlying their prodrug behaviour and the pivotal role played by the metallocenic entity in their cytotoxic activity associated with the induction of apoptosis

Nanoparticles loaded with ferrocenyl tamoxifen derivatives for breast cancer treatment.

International audienceFor the first time, two organometallic triphenylethylene compounds (Fc-diOH and DFO), with strong antiproliferative activity in breast cancer cells, but insoluble in biological fluids, were incorporated in two types of stealth nanoparticles (NP): PEG/PLA nanospheres (NS) and nanocapsules (NC). Their physicochemical parameters were measured (size, zeta potential, encapsulation and loading efficiency), and their biological activity was assessed. In vitro drug release after high dilution of loaded NPs was measured by estradiol binding competition in MELN cells. The influence of the encapsulated drugs on the cell cycle and apoptosis was studied by flow cytometry analyses. Notwithstanding potential drug adsorption at the NP surface, Fc-diOH and DFO were incorporated efficiently in NC and NS, which slowly released both compounds. They arrested the cell cycle in the S-phase and induced apoptosis, whose activity is increased by loaded NS. A decrease in their antiproliferative activity by the antioxidant alpha-tocopherol indicated that reactive oxygen species (ROS) may be involved. Therefore, nanosystems, containing for the first time a high load of anticancer organometallic triphenylethylenes, have been developed. Their small size and delayed drug release, combined with their enhanced apoptotic potential, are compatible with an increased persistence in the blood and a promising antitumour activity

The replacement of a phenol group by an aniline or acetanilide group enhances the cytotoxicity of 2-ferrocenyl-1,1-diphenyl-but-1-ene compounds against breast cancer cells

International audienceWe have previously shown that conjugated ferrocenyl p-phenols show strong cytotoxic effects against both the hormone-dependent MCF-7 and hormone-independent MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines, possibly via oxidative quinone methide formation. We now present a series of analogous amine and acetamide compounds: 2-ferrocenyl-1-(4-aminophenyl)-1-phenyl-but-1-ene (Z+E-2), 2-ferrocenyl-1-(4-N-acetylaminophenyl)-1-phenyl-but-1-ene (Z-3), and their corresponding organic molecules 1-(4-aminophenyl)-1,2-bis-phenyl-but-1-ene (Z+E-4) and 1-(4-N-acetamidophenyl)-1,2-bis-phenyl-but-1-ene (Z+E-5). All of the compounds have adequate relative binding affinity values for the estrogen receptor; between 2.8% and 5.7% for ERα, and between 0.18% and 15.5% for ERβ, as well as exothermic ligand binding in in silico ER docking experiments. Compounds 2 and 3 show dual estrogenic/cytotoxic activity on the MCF-7 cell line; they are proliferative at low concentrations (0.1 μM) and antiproliferative at high concentrations (10 μM). On the MDA-MB-231 cell line, the ferrocenyl complexes 2 and 3 are antiproliferative with IC50 values of 0.8 μM for 2 and 0.65 μM for 3, while the purely organic molecules 4 and 5 show no effect. Electrochemical experiments suggest that both 2 and 3 can be transformed to oxidized quinoid-type species, analogous to what had previously been observed for the ferrocene phenols

The replacement of a phenol group by an aniline or acetanilide group enhances the cytotoxicity of 2-ferrocenyl-1,1-diphenyl-but-1-ene compounds against breast cancer cells

International audienceWe have previously shown that conjugated ferrocenyl p-phenols show strong cytotoxic effects against both the hormone-dependent MCF-7 and hormone-independent MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines, possibly via oxidative quinone methide formation. We now present a series of analogous amine and acetamide compounds: 2-ferrocenyl-1-(4-aminophenyl)-1-phenyl-but-1-ene (Z+E-2), 2-ferrocenyl-1-(4-N-acetylaminophenyl)-1-phenyl-but-1-ene (Z-3), and their corresponding organic molecules 1-(4-aminophenyl)-1,2-bis-phenyl-but-1-ene (Z+E-4) and 1-(4-N-acetamidophenyl)-1,2-bis-phenyl-but-1-ene (Z+E-5). All of the compounds have adequate relative binding affinity values for the estrogen receptor; between 2.8% and 5.7% for ERα, and between 0.18% and 15.5% for ERβ, as well as exothermic ligand binding in in silico ER docking experiments. Compounds 2 and 3 show dual estrogenic/cytotoxic activity on the MCF-7 cell line; they are proliferative at low concentrations (0.1 μM) and antiproliferative at high concentrations (10 μM). On the MDA-MB-231 cell line, the ferrocenyl complexes 2 and 3 are antiproliferative with IC50 values of 0.8 μM for 2 and 0.65 μM for 3, while the purely organic molecules 4 and 5 show no effect. Electrochemical experiments suggest that both 2 and 3 can be transformed to oxidized quinoid-type species, analogous to what had previously been observed for the ferrocene phenols

Atypical McMurry Cross-Coupling Reactions Leading to a New Series of Potent Antiproliferative Compounds Bearing the Key [Ferrocenyl-Ene-Phenol] Motif

In the course of the preparation of a series of ferrocenyl derivatives of diethylstilbestrol (DES), in which one of the 4-hydroxyphenyl moieties was replaced by a ferrocenyl group, the McMurry reaction of chloropropionylferrocene with a number of mono-aryl ketones unexpectedly yielded the hydroxylated ferrocenyl DES derivatives, 5a–c, in poor yields (10%–16%). These compounds showed high activity on the hormone-independent breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 with IC50 values ranging from 0.14 to 0.36 µM. Surprisingly, non-hydroxylated ferrocenyl DES, 4, showed only an IC50 value of 1.14 µM, illustrating the importance of the hydroxyethyl function in this promising new series. For comparison, McMurry reactions of the shorter chain analogue chloroacetylferrocene were carried out to see the difference in behaviour with mono-aryl ketones versus a diaryl ketone. The effect of changing the length of the alkyl chain adjacent to the phenolic substituent of the hydroxylated ferrocenyl DES was studied, a mechanistic rationale to account for the unexpected products is proposed, and the antiproliferative activities of all of these compounds on MDA-MB-231 cells lines were measured and compared. X-ray crystal structures of cross-coupled products and of pinacol-pinacolone rearrangements are reported.The authors wish to thank P. Herson and J. Vaissermann for three crystal structure determinations and T. Cresteil for IC50 determinations. We thank Anh N’Guyen for full discussions. K.K.’s stay in Paris was supported through an European Community Marie Curie Fellowship (HMPT-CT-2000- 00186). We thank the Agence Nationale de la Recherche for financial support (ANR 2010 BLAN 7061 blanc “Mecaferrol”) and the Ministère des Affaires Etrangères for a doctoral fellowship (M.G.)

Synthèse de dérivés de l' éthynyloestradiol complexés par des métaux de transition (reconnaissance de la chiralité plane par les récepteurs de l' oestradiol)

PARIS-BIUSJ-Thèses (751052125) / SudocPARIS-BIUSJ-Physique recherche (751052113) / SudocSudocFranceF

Nouvelle réaction pour la synthèse d'œstrogènes organométalliques du rhénium et du technétium radioactif (première utilisation du rhénium hexacarbonyle pour la synthèse de cyclopentadiénylrhéniumtricarbonyles substitués)

PARIS-BIUSJ-Thèses (751052125) / SudocPARIS-BIUSJ-Physique recherche (751052113) / SudocSudocFranceF

Synthèse d'anti-androgènes organométalliques non stéroïdiens et application au traitement du cancer de la prostate

PARIS-BIUSJ-Thèses (751052125) / SudocPARIS-BIUSJ-Physique recherche (751052113) / SudocSudocFranceF

Exploration du mécanisme d'action des analogues ferrocéniques du tamoxifène

Le remplacement de l un des groupements phényles du tamoxifène par un ferrocène permet l accès à une nouvelle classe de molécules, les hydroxyferrocifènes, qui se sont révélés cytotoxiques sur les cellules du cancer du sein. L origine de cette cytotoxicité peut s expliquer par la formation in situ d espèces hautement cytotoxiques : les méthines quinones (MQs). Même si elles avaient pu être observées dans le cas du tamoxifène et des hydroxyferrocifènes, elles n avaient, jusqu ici, pu être isolées ni caractérisées. Nous avons donc cherché à préparer chimiquement ces MQs, ainsi que par voie métabolique. Elles ont ensuite été complètement caractérisées (RMN 1H et 13C, structure RX notamment) et testées sur cellules cancéreuses MDA-MB231 (ER-). Un fort pouvoir antiprolifératif a pu être observé, suggérant ainsi que les MQs sont bien des intermédiaires clés pour expliquer la cytotoxicité des hydroxyferrocifènes sur les cellules cancéreuses ER-. La réactivité de ces nouvelles MQs a été évaluée in vitro dans des conditions proches des conditions physiologiques et en présence de nucléophiles biologiques comme le glutathion et la N-acétylcystéine. La formation d adduits avec ces nucléophiles a pu être mise en évidence, ainsi qu un réarrangement en milieu protique. De nouveaux analogues de l hydroxyferrocifène ont également été synthétisés : le ferrocène a été substitué avec de nombreux groupements afin d évaluer la cytotoxicité des nouveaux dérivés formés et l importance du potentiel d oxydation dans l activité de ces dérivésPARIS-BIUSJ-Physique recherche (751052113) / SudocSudocFranceF

Conception, caractérisation et évaluation de nouveaux radiotraceurs pour le diagnostic et le traitement du cancer du sein et de la prostate

Notre laboratoire s intéresse depuis de nombreuses années à l utilisation de composés organométalliques dans le cadre de la recherche de nouvelles approches thérapeutiques. En effet, leur potentiel cytotoxique ou radioactif, peut être bénéfique dans la lutte contre de nombreuses maladies. Notre objectif est la synthèse des analogues de molécules d intérêt biologique comportant un groupe organométallique cytotoxique tel que le ferrocène, le cymantrène, le cyrhétrène, ou le cyclopentadiényltricarbonyltechnétium. Ces molécules seraient susceptibles de traiter ou de détecter plusieurs formes de cancers hormono-dépendants ou non. Dans ce travail de thèse, Nous avons développé aussi le radiomarquage au technétium d une série de ces molécules afin de permettre l utilisation de ces traceurs pour des études d imagerie in vivo chez l animal puis chez l homme. Les paramètres de réaction ont été définis afin que la réaction de marquage présente un haut rendement de marquage, et une forte activité spécifique. Les réactions sont rapides et reproductibles et la mise en forme compatible avec une utilisation in vivo. Les différentes propriétés physicochimiques: liposolubilité, stabilité du marquage, et les propriétés pharmacocinétiques: Pourcentage de liaison non spécifique et biodistribution chez le petit animal ont êtes réalisés. Les études ont permis de sélectionner les radiotraceurs présentent les meilleurs critères pour une utilisation in vivo en imagerie.PARIS-BIUSJ-Physique recherche (751052113) / SudocSudocFranceTunisiaFRT