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Vitali V, Massai L, Messori L. Strategies for the design of analogs of auranofin endowed with anticancer potential. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2024; 19:855-867. [PMID: 38803122 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2024.2355329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Auranofin (AF) is a well-established, FDA-approved, antiarthritic gold drug that is currently being reevaluated for a variety of therapeutic indications through drug repurposing. AF has shown great promise as a potential anticancer agent and has been approved for a few clinical trials in cancer. The renewed interest in AF has led to extensive research into the design, preparation and biological evaluation of auranofin analogs, which may have an even better pharmacological profile than the parent drug. AREAS COVERED This article reviews the strategies for chemical modification of the AF scaffold. Several auranofin analogs have been prepared and characterized for medical application in the field of cancer treatment over the last 20 years. Some emerging structure-function relationships are proposed and discussed. EXPERT OPINION The chemical modification of the AF scaffold has been the subject of intense activity in recent years and this strategy has led to the preparation and evaluation of several AF analogs. The case of iodauranofin is a particularly promising example. The availability of homogeneous biological data for a group of AF derivatives allows some initial structure-function relationships to be proposed, which may inspire the design and synthesis of new and better AF analogs for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Vitali
- Laboratory of Metals in Medicine (MetMed), Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Lara Massai
- Laboratory of Metals in Medicine (MetMed), Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Luigi Messori
- Laboratory of Metals in Medicine (MetMed), Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
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2
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Baglini E, Chiaverini L, Tolbatov I, Taliani S, Da Settimo F, La Mendola D, Barresi E, Marzo T. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) for ovarian cancer treatment: from organic to inorganic chemotherapeutics towards selectivity-a perspective overview. Biometals 2024; 37:275-288. [PMID: 37930483 PMCID: PMC11006779 DOI: 10.1007/s10534-023-00547-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Ovarian cancer (OC) is a lethal gynecologic cancer in industrialized countries. Treatments for OC include the surgical removal and chemotherapy. In the last decades, improvements have been made in the surgery technologies, drug combinations and administration protocols, and in diagnosis. However, mortality from OC is still high owing to recurrences and insurgence of drug resistance. Accordingly, it is urgent the development of novel agents capable to effectively target OC. In this respect, tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) may play an important role. Most of TKIs developed and tested so far are organic. However, owing to their chemical versatility, also metals can be exploited to design selective and potent TKIs. We provide a short and easy-to-read overview on the main organic TKIs with a summary of those that entered clinical trials. Additionally, we describe the potential of metal-based TKIs, focusing on this overlooked family of compounds that may significantly contribute towards the concept of precision-medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Baglini
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno Pisano 6, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Chiaverini
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno Pisano 6, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Iogann Tolbatov
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Padova, via F. Marzolo 8, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Sabrina Taliani
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno Pisano 6, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Federico Da Settimo
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno Pisano 6, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Diego La Mendola
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno Pisano 6, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Barresi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno Pisano 6, 56126, Pisa, Italy.
| | - Tiziano Marzo
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno Pisano 6, 56126, Pisa, Italy.
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König P, Zhulenko R, Suparman E, Hoffmeister H, Bückreiß N, Ott I, Bendas G. A biscarbene gold(I)-NHC-complex overcomes cisplatin-resistance in A2780 and W1 ovarian cancer cells highlighting pERK as regulator of apoptosis. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2023; 92:57-69. [PMID: 37272932 PMCID: PMC10261188 DOI: 10.1007/s00280-023-04548-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Cisplatin resistance is the major obstacle in the clinical treatment of ovarian cancer patients. Molecular mechanisms of cisplatin resistance are multifaceted. Gold(I)-compounds, i.e. N-heterocyclic carbene-gold(I)-complexes (NHC-Au(I)) has been regarded as promising cytotoxic drug candidates. However, their potential to overcome cisplatin resistance has hardly been addressed yet. Here we investigated the activity of the gold(I) drug auranofin and the NHC-Au(I)-compound MC3 in W1CR and A2780cis cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cells. METHODS Cytotoxicity of auranofin and MC3 was detected by MTT assay, correlated with intracellular gold(I) content, analyzed by AAS, and with flow cytometric detection of the cell cycle. Insight into cellular redox balance was provided by fluorimetric ROS-formation assay and western blotting thioredoxin (Trx) and Nrf2. The role of ERK was elucidated by using the inhibitor SCH772984 and its impact on cytotoxicity upon co-treatment with cisplatin and Au(I)-compounds, respectively. RESULTS MC3 overcomes cisplatin resistance in A2780cis and W1CR, and auranofin in W1CR cells completely, which is neither reflected by intracellular gold levels nor cell cycle changes. Upregulated redox balance appears as a basis for resistance. W1CR cells possess higher Trx levels, whereas A2780cis cells display strong Nrf2 expression as anti-oxidative protection. Nevertheless, overcoming redox balance appears not primary mode of activity comparing cisplatin and gold(I)-compounds. pERK emerges as a critical component and thus a promising target for overcoming resistance, regulating apoptosis differently in response to either gold(I) or cisplatin in A2780 cells. CONCLUSION These data reflect the complexity of cisplatin resistance in cell models and emphasize NHC-Au(I)-complexes as prospective cytotoxic agents for further investigations in that respect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp König
- Department of Pharmacy, University Bonn, An der Immenburg 4, 53121, Bonn, Germany
| | - Roman Zhulenko
- Department of Pharmacy, University Bonn, An der Immenburg 4, 53121, Bonn, Germany
| | - Eloy Suparman
- Department of Pharmacy, University Bonn, An der Immenburg 4, 53121, Bonn, Germany
| | - Henrik Hoffmeister
- Institute of Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106, Brunswick, Germany
| | - Nico Bückreiß
- Department of Pharmacy, University Bonn, An der Immenburg 4, 53121, Bonn, Germany
| | - Ingo Ott
- Institute of Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106, Brunswick, Germany
| | - Gerd Bendas
- Department of Pharmacy, University Bonn, An der Immenburg 4, 53121, Bonn, Germany.
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Aragoni MC, Podda E, Caria V, Carta SA, Cherchi MF, Lippolis V, Murgia S, Orrù G, Pippia G, Scano A, Slawin AMZ, Woollins JD, Pintus A, Arca M. [Au III(N^N)Br 2](PF 6): A Class of Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Complexes (N^N = 2,2'-Bipyridine and 1,10-Phenanthroline Derivatives). Inorg Chem 2023; 62:2924-2933. [PMID: 36728360 PMCID: PMC9930124 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.2c04410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
A series of new complexes of general formula [AuIII(N^N)Br2](PF6) (N^N = 2,2'-bipyridine and 1,10-phenanthroline derivatives) were prepared and characterized by spectroscopic, electrochemical, and diffractometric techniques and tested against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus intermedius, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli), showing promising antibacterial and antibiofilm properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Carla Aragoni
- Dipartimento
di Scienze Chimiche e Geologiche, Università
degli Studi di Cagliari, S. S. 554 bivio per Sestu, Monserrato Cagliari09042, Italy
| | - Enrico Podda
- Dipartimento
di Scienze Chimiche e Geologiche, Università
degli Studi di Cagliari, S. S. 554 bivio per Sestu, Monserrato Cagliari09042, Italy,Centro
Servizi di Ateneo per la Ricerca (CeSAR), Università degli Studi di Cagliari, S. S. 554 bivio per Sestu, Monserrato Cagliari09042, Italy
| | - Veronica Caria
- Dipartimento
di Scienze Chimiche e Geologiche, Università
degli Studi di Cagliari, S. S. 554 bivio per Sestu, Monserrato Cagliari09042, Italy
| | - Silvia A. Carta
- Dipartimento
di Scienze Chimiche e Geologiche, Università
degli Studi di Cagliari, S. S. 554 bivio per Sestu, Monserrato Cagliari09042, Italy
| | - M. Francesca Cherchi
- Dipartimento
di Scienze Chimiche e Geologiche, Università
degli Studi di Cagliari, S. S. 554 bivio per Sestu, Monserrato Cagliari09042, Italy
| | - Vito Lippolis
- Dipartimento
di Scienze Chimiche e Geologiche, Università
degli Studi di Cagliari, S. S. 554 bivio per Sestu, Monserrato Cagliari09042, Italy
| | - Simone Murgia
- Dipartimento
di Scienze Chimiche e Geologiche, Università
degli Studi di Cagliari, S. S. 554 bivio per Sestu, Monserrato Cagliari09042, Italy
| | - Germano Orrù
- Dipartimento
di Scienze Chirurgiche, University of Cagliari, Cagliari09042, Italy
| | - Gabriele Pippia
- Dipartimento
di Scienze Chimiche e Geologiche, Università
degli Studi di Cagliari, S. S. 554 bivio per Sestu, Monserrato Cagliari09042, Italy
| | - Alessandra Scano
- Dipartimento
di Scienze Chirurgiche, University of Cagliari, Cagliari09042, Italy
| | - Alexandra M. Z. Slawin
- EaStCHEM
School of Chemistry, University of St. Andrews, North Haugh, Fife, St. AndrewsKY16 9ST, U.K.
| | - J. Derek Woollins
- EaStCHEM
School of Chemistry, University of St. Andrews, North Haugh, Fife, St. AndrewsKY16 9ST, U.K.,Department
of Chemistry, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi127788, United Arab Emirates
| | - Anna Pintus
- Dipartimento
di Scienze Chimiche e Geologiche, Università
degli Studi di Cagliari, S. S. 554 bivio per Sestu, Monserrato Cagliari09042, Italy,
| | - Massimiliano Arca
- Dipartimento
di Scienze Chimiche e Geologiche, Università
degli Studi di Cagliari, S. S. 554 bivio per Sestu, Monserrato Cagliari09042, Italy,
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Cirri D, Chiaverini L, Pratesi A, Marzo T. Is the Next Cisplatin Already in Our Laboratory? COMMENT INORG CHEM 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/02603594.2022.2152016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Damiano Cirri
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Via G. Moruzzi, 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Chiaverini
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno Pisano, 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Alessandro Pratesi
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Via G. Moruzzi, 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Tiziano Marzo
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno Pisano, 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
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Massai L, Grifagni D, De Santis A, Geri A, Cantini F, Calderone V, Banci L, Messori L. Gold-Based Metal Drugs as Inhibitors of Coronavirus Proteins: The Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease by Auranofin and Its Analogs. Biomolecules 2022; 12:1675. [PMID: 36421689 PMCID: PMC9687241 DOI: 10.3390/biom12111675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Gold compounds have a long tradition in medicine and offer many opportunities for new therapeutic applications. Herein, we evaluated the lead compound Auranofin and five related gold(I) complexes as possible inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease (SARS-CoV-2 Mpro), a validated drug target for the COVID-19 disease. The investigational panel of gold compounds included Auranofin; three halido analogues, i.e., Au(PEt3)Cl, Au(PEt3)Br, and Au(PEt3)I; and two gold carbene complexes, i.e., Au(NHC)Cl and [Au(NHC)2]PF6. Notably, all these gold compounds, with the only exception of [Au(NHC)2]PF6, turned out to be potent inhibitors of the catalytic activity of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro: the measured Ki values were in the range 2.1-0.4 μM. The reactions of the various gold compounds with SARS-CoV-2 Mpro were subsequently investigated through electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry (MS) upon a careful optimization of the experimental conditions; the ESI MS spectra provided clear evidence for the formation of tight metallodrug-protein adducts and for the coordination of well defined gold-containing fragments to the SARS-CoV-2 Mpro, again with the only exception of [Au(NHC)2]PF6, The metal-protein stoichiometry was unambiguously determined for the resulting species. The crystal structures of the metallodrug- Mpro adducts were solved in the case of Au(PEt3)Br and Au(NHC)Cl. These crystal structures show that gold coordination occurs at the level of catalytic Cys 145 in the case of Au(NHC)Cl and at the level of both Cys 145 and Cys 156 for Au(PEt3)Br. Tight coordination of gold atoms to functionally relevant cysteine residues is believed to represent the true molecular basis of strong enzyme inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Massai
- Department of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”, University of Florence, Via Della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Florence, Italy
| | - Deborah Grifagni
- Department of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”, University of Florence, Via Della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Florence, Italy
- Magnetic Resonance Center (CERM), University of Florence, Via L. Sacconi 6, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Florence, Italy
| | - Alessia De Santis
- Department of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”, University of Florence, Via Della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Florence, Italy
- Magnetic Resonance Center (CERM), University of Florence, Via L. Sacconi 6, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Florence, Italy
| | - Andrea Geri
- Department of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”, University of Florence, Via Della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Florence, Italy
| | - Francesca Cantini
- Department of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”, University of Florence, Via Della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Florence, Italy
- Magnetic Resonance Center (CERM), University of Florence, Via L. Sacconi 6, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Florence, Italy
- Consorzio Interuniversitario Risonanze Magnetiche Metallo Proteine (CIRMMP), University of Florence, Via L. Sacconi 6, 50019 Florence, Italy
| | - Vito Calderone
- Department of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”, University of Florence, Via Della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Florence, Italy
- Magnetic Resonance Center (CERM), University of Florence, Via L. Sacconi 6, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Florence, Italy
- Consorzio Interuniversitario Risonanze Magnetiche Metallo Proteine (CIRMMP), University of Florence, Via L. Sacconi 6, 50019 Florence, Italy
| | - Lucia Banci
- Department of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”, University of Florence, Via Della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Florence, Italy
- Magnetic Resonance Center (CERM), University of Florence, Via L. Sacconi 6, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Florence, Italy
- Consorzio Interuniversitario Risonanze Magnetiche Metallo Proteine (CIRMMP), University of Florence, Via L. Sacconi 6, 50019 Florence, Italy
| | - Luigi Messori
- Department of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”, University of Florence, Via Della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Florence, Italy
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