Antitumor activity of the Cu(II)-mitoxantrone complex and its interaction with deoxyribonucleic acid

The effect of the Cu(II)-mitoxantrone complex on the DNA synthesis of HL-60 human leukemia cells has been studied by the technique of isotopic liquid scintillation. The results indicated that the complex shows a stronger ability to inhibit DNA synthesis of the tumor cells, and thus it may become a better antitumor drug. The interaction of mitoxantrone and its Cu(II) complex was studied by the methods of electrochemistry and spectroscopy. The complex gives rise to more changes on the conformation and the double-helical structure of DNA; this is closely related to the antitumor mechanism of the complex.