Antiproliferative activity of cationic and neutral thiosemicarbazone copper(ii) complexes

Three new copper(ii) thiosemicarbazone complexes were synthesized and characterized. The DNA/protein binding and antiproliferative activity of the complexes have been described.

Highly stable selenadiazole derivatives induce bladder cancer cell apoptosis and inhibit cell migration and invasion through the activation of ROS-mediated signaling pathways

Herein highly stable selenadiazole derivatives were synthesized and found to be able to induce bladder cancer cell apoptosis and inhibit cell migration and invasion through the activation of ROS-mediated pathways.

Selenocysteine derivative overcomes TRAIL resistance in melanoma cells: evidence for ROS-dependent synergism and signaling crosstalk

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), as one of the most promising targeted drug for new cancer therapeutics, is limited in clinical application by the evolution of resistance in many cancer cell lines, especially in malignant melanoma. Thus, it is urgently needed to identify chemosensitizers to enhance the apoptotic inducing efficacy of TRAIL and overcome resistance of malignant melanoma cells. Herein, we reported that 3,3'-diselenodipropionic acid (DSeA), a Selenocysteine derivative, could synergistically enhance the growth inhibitory effect of TRAIL on A375 melanoma cells though induction of ROS-dependent apoptosis with involvement of PTEN-mediated Akt inactivation and DNA damage-mediated p53 phosphorylation, which subsequently activated mitochondrial and death receptor apoptotic pathways. Moreover, silencing of p53 down-regulated the expression levels of p53-inducible genes, and effectively blocked the cell apoptosis. Suppression of PI3K significantly increased the apoptotic cell death. In contrast, antioxidants effectively reversed the cell apoptosis through regulation of Akt and p53 signaling pathways. Taken together, the combination of DSeA and TRAIL could be a novel strategy to overcome TRAIL resistance in malignant melanoma, and DSeA may be candidates for further evaluation as a chemosensitizer in clinical trails.

Synthesis of selenazolopyridine derivatives with capability to induce apoptosis in human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells through scavenge of intracellular ROS

A series of selenazolopyridine derivatives have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction, high resolution NMR and Mass spectrum. The in vitro anticancer activities of the synthetic compounds were screened against a panel of human cancer cell lines, human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells, human liver carcinoma HepG2 cells and L02 normal cell line by MTT assay. By analyzing the structure-activity relationship among the synthetic compounds, it was found that 2-(phenylamino) selenazolo [5,4-b] pyridine, (PSeD, 7) had higher growth inhibitory effect on MCF-7 cells. The intracellular mechanism of cell death was evaluated by flow cytometric analysis and ROS assay, which revealed that PSeD could induce MCF-7 cells apoptosis by scavenging intracellular ROS. Taken together, we regard PSeD as an antioxidant which could inhibit cancer cell growth through induction of apoptosis.

Synthesis, structure, photoluminescence and antitumour activity of zinc complex based on 2-(2-(1H-benzo-[d]imidazol-2-yl)benzyl)-1H-benzo-[d]imidazole

A new complex [Zn(bbb)Cl2]·DMF, where bbb is 2-(2-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)benzyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazole, was synthesized and characterized by element analysis, (1)H NMR and X-ray single crystal structure analyses. For complex: crystal system, triclinic, space group, P-1, a=9.4661(13), b=10.3534(14), c=13.0025(18)Å, α=73.477(2), β=80.743(2), γ=88.658(2)°, V=1205.5(3)Å(3), Z=2. In this complex, the Zn(2+) distorted tetrahedron geometry is coordinated by two nitrogen atoms from 2-(2-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)benzyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazole and two Cl(-). The complex emits yellow green luminescence with the maximal emission peak at 550 nm in DMF solution. The complex exhibits inhibition on the growth of Eca109 cancer cell with IC50 value of 8.9±1.1 μM, which was lower than that of cisplatin (14.3±1.4 μM). This complex has potential application in treatment of esophageal cancer.

In vivo accurate target bio-marking of tumors through in situ biosynthesized fluorescent zinc nanoclusters

This article demonstrates that when cultured with micromolar zinc gluconate solutions, cancerous cells readily biosynthesized in situ biocompatible zinc nanoclusters allowing their fluorescence bio-imaging.

Doubly chloro bridged dimeric copper(ii) complex: magneto-structural correlation and anticancer activity

A doubly chloro bridged dinuclear copper(ii) complex was synthesized and magneto-structural correlation was drawn.The complex exhibits promising anticancer activity in HepG2 cells.

Dinuclear zinc(II) complexes containing (benzimidazol-2-yl)benzene that overcome drug resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma cells through induction of mitochondria fragmentation

Herein we demonstrated that dinuclear zinc complexes could overcome drug resistance in R-HepG2 drug resistance hepatocellular carcinoma cells through induction of mitochondria-mediated apoptosis or by triggering mitochondria fragmentation, depletion of the membrane potential and intracellular ATP levels.

Selenium substitution endows cystine with radiosensitization activity against cervical cancer cells

Selenium substitution could endow cystine the radiosensitization activity against cervical cancer HeLa cells through overproduction of ROS and activation of downstream signaling, which suggests this could be a novel strategy for design of cancer radiosensitizers.