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Published on: June 9, 2023
Ruthenium (II)/allopurinol complex inhibits breast cancer progression via multiple targets
Ingrid O Travassos1, Francyelli Mello-Andrade1,2, Raíssa P Caldeira1
1Laboratório de Genética Molecular E Citogenética Humana, sala 213, Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas I, Campus Samambaia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Avenida Esperança, s/n, Cx Postal: 131, Goiânia, Goiás, CEP 74690-900, Brazil.
Abstract:
Metal complexes based on ruthenium have established excellent activity with less toxicity and great selectivity for tumor cells. This study aims to assess the anticancer potential of ruthenium(II)/allopurinol complexes called [RuCl2(allo)2(PPh3)2] (1) and [RuCl2(allo)2(dppb)] (2), where allo means allopurinol, PPh3 is triphenylphosphine and dppb, 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane. The complexes were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV-Vis and NMR spectroscopies, cyclic voltammetry, molar conductance measurements, as well as the X-ray crystallographic analysis of complex 2. The antitumor effects of compounds were determined by cytotoxic activity and cellular and molecular responses to cell death mechanisms. Complex 2 showed good antitumor profile prospects because in addition to its cytotoxicity, it causes cell cycle arrest, induction of DNA damage, morphological and biochemical alterations in the cells. Moreover, complex 2 induces cell death by p53-mediated apoptosis, caspase activation, increased Beclin-1 levels and decreased ROS levels. Therefore, complex 2 can be considered a suitable compound in antitumor treatment due to its cytotoxic mechanism.
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