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Arojojoye AS, Olelewe C, Gukathasan S, Kim JH, Vekaria H, Parkin S, Sullivan PG, Awuah SG. Serum-Stable Gold(III) Bisphosphine Complex Induces Mild Mitochondrial Uncoupling and In Vivo Antitumor Potency in Triple Negative Breast Cancer. J Med Chem 2023; 66:7868-7879. [PMID: 37279147 PMCID: PMC10317555 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00238] [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] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The preparation of cyclometalated complexes offers a path to stable materials, catalysts, and therapeutic agents. Here, we explore the anticancer potential of novel biphenyl organogold(III) cationic complexes supported by diverse bisphosphine ligands, Au-1-Au-5, toward aggressive glioblastoma and triple negative breast cancer cells (TNBCs). The [C^C] gold(III) complex, Au-3, exhibits significant tumor growth inhibition in a metastatic TNBC mouse model. Remarkably, Au-3 displays promising blood serum stability over a relevant therapeutic window of 24 h and alteration in the presence of excess L-GSH. The mechanism-of-action studies show that Au-3 induces mitochondrial uncoupling, membrane depolarization, and G1 cell cycle arrest and prompts apoptosis. To the best of our knowledge, Au-3 is the first biphenyl gold-phosphine complex to uncouple mitochondria and inhibit TNBC growth in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chibuzor Olelewe
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington KY 40506, USA
| | | | - Jong H. Kim
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington KY 40506, USA
| | - Hemendra Vekaria
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington KY 40536, U.S.A
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Kentucky, Lexington KY 40536, U.S.A
| | - Sean Parkin
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington KY 40506, USA
| | - Patrick G. Sullivan
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington KY 40536, U.S.A
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Kentucky, Lexington KY 40536, U.S.A
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Kentucky Lexington KY 40536, U.S.A
| | - Samuel G. Awuah
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington KY 40506, USA
- Center for Pharmaceutical Research and Innovation and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy University of Kentucky, Lexington KY 40536, USA
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington KY 40536
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Mertens RT, Gukathasan S, Arojojoye AS, Olelewe C, Awuah SG. Next Generation Gold Drugs and Probes: Chemistry and Biomedical Applications. Chem Rev 2023; 123:6612-6667. [PMID: 37071737 PMCID: PMC10317554 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/20/2023]
Abstract
The gold drugs, gold sodium thiomalate (Myocrisin), aurothioglucose (Solganal), and the orally administered auranofin (Ridaura), are utilized in modern medicine for the treatment of inflammatory arthritis including rheumatoid and juvenile arthritis; however, new gold agents have been slow to enter the clinic. Repurposing of auranofin in different disease indications such as cancer, parasitic, and microbial infections in the clinic has provided impetus for the development of new gold complexes for biomedical applications based on unique mechanistic insights differentiated from auranofin. Various chemical methods for the preparation of physiologically stable gold complexes and associated mechanisms have been explored in biomedicine such as therapeutics or chemical probes. In this Review, we discuss the chemistry of next generation gold drugs, which encompasses oxidation states, geometry, ligands, coordination, and organometallic compounds for infectious diseases, cancer, inflammation, and as tools for chemical biology via gold-protein interactions. We will focus on the development of gold agents in biomedicine within the past decade. The Review provides readers with an accessible overview of the utility, development, and mechanism of action of gold-based small molecules to establish context and basis for the thriving resurgence of gold in medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Tyler Mertens
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Sailajah Gukathasan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Adedamola S Arojojoye
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Chibuzor Olelewe
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Samuel G Awuah
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, United States
- University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, United States
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Moreno-Alcántar G, Picchetti P, Casini A. Gold Complexes in Anticancer Therapy: From New Design Principles to Particle-Based Delivery Systems. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202218000. [PMID: 36847211 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202218000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/28/2023]
Abstract
The discovery of the medicinal properties of gold complexes has fuelled the design and synthesis of new anticancer metallodrugs, which have received special attention due to their unique modes of action. Current research in the development of gold compounds with therapeutic properties is predominantly focused on the molecular design of drug leads with superior pharmacological activities, e.g., by introducing targeting features. Moreover, intensive research aims at improving the physicochemical properties of gold compounds, such as chemical stability and solubility in the physiological environment. In this regard, the encapsulation of gold compounds in nanocarriers or their chemical grafting onto targeted delivery vectors could lead to new nanomedicines that eventually reach clinical applications. Herein, we provide an overview of the state-of-the-art progress of gold anticancer compounds, andmore importantly we thoroughly revise the development of nanoparticle-based delivery systems for gold chemotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Moreno-Alcántar
- Chair of Medicinal and Bioinorganic Chemistry, School of Natural Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Lichtenbergstr. 4, 85748, Garching b. München, Germany
| | - Pierre Picchetti
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Nanotechnology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Angela Casini
- Chair of Medicinal and Bioinorganic Chemistry, School of Natural Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Lichtenbergstr. 4, 85748, Garching b. München, Germany
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Olelewe C, Awuah SG. Mitochondria as a target of third row transition metal-based anticancer complexes. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2023; 72:102235. [PMID: 36516614 PMCID: PMC9870944 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2022.102235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
In pursuit of better treatment options for malignant tumors, metal-based complexes continue to show promise as attractive chemotherapeutics due to tunability, novel mechanisms, and potency exemplified by platinum agents. The metabolic character of tumors renders the mitochondria and other metabolism pathways fruitful targets for medicinal inorganic chemistry. Cumulative understanding of the role of mitochondria in tumorigenesis has ignited research in mitochondrial targeting metal-based complexes to overcome resistance and inhibit tumor growth with high potency and selectivity. Here, we discuss recent progress made in third row transition metal-based mitochondrial targeting agents with the goal of stimulating an active field of research toward new clinical anticancer agents and the elucidation of novel mechanisms of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chibuzor Olelewe
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, 40506, USA
| | - Samuel G Awuah
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, 40506, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, United States; University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, United States.
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Arojojoye AS, Kim JH, Olelewe C, Parkin S, Awuah SG. Chiral gold(III) complexes: speciation, in vitro, and in vivo anticancer profile. Chem Commun (Camb) 2022; 58:10237-10240. [PMID: 36004570 PMCID: PMC10317552 DOI: 10.1039/d2cc03081k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Emerging synthetic development of chiral gold(III) complexes has prompted new opportunities in catalysis and material science with limited utility in biomedicine. Here, we demonstrate potential chemotherapeutic capability of [C^N]Au(III)Cl(R-DuPhos) (1-7) complexes, containing 1,2-bis[(2R,5R)-2,5-dialkylphospholano]benzene, which shows good stabilty, potent anticancer activity, and tolerability in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jong H Kim
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA.
| | - Chibuzor Olelewe
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA.
| | - Sean Parkin
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA.
| | - Samuel G Awuah
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA.
- Center for Pharmaceutical Research and Innovation and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
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Lu Y, Ma X, Chang X, Liang Z, Lv L, Shan M, Lu Q, Wen Z, Gust R, Liu W. Recent development of gold(I) and gold(III) complexes as therapeutic agents for cancer diseases. Chem Soc Rev 2022; 51:5518-5556. [PMID: 35699475 DOI: 10.1039/d1cs00933h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Metal complexes have demonstrated significant antitumor activities and platinum complexes are well established in the clinical application of cancer chemotherapy. However, the platinum-based treatment of different types of cancers is massively hampered by severe side effects and resistance development. Consequently, the development of novel metal-based drugs with different mechanism of action and pharmaceutical profile attracts modern medicinal chemists to design and synthesize novel metal-based agents. Among non-platinum anticancer drugs, gold complexes have gained considerable attention due to their significant antiproliferative potency and efficacy. In most situations, the gold complexes exhibit anticancer activities by targeting thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) or other thiol-rich proteins and enzymes and trigger cell death via reactive oxygen species (ROS). Interestingly, gold complexes were recently reported to elicit biochemical hallmarks of immunogenic cell death (ICD) as an ICD inducer. In this review, the recent progress of gold(I) and gold(III) complexes is comprehensively summarized, and their activities and mechanism of action are documented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunlong Lu
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
| | - Xiaoyan Ma
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
| | - Xingyu Chang
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
| | - Zhenlin Liang
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
| | - Lin Lv
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
| | - Min Shan
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
| | - Qiuyue Lu
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
| | - Zhenfan Wen
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
| | - Ronald Gust
- Institute of Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck, Center for Chemistry and Biomedicine, Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Wukun Liu
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China. .,State key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
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Olelewe C, Kim JH, Ofori S, Mertens RT, Gukathasan S, Awuah SG. Gold(III)-P-chirogenic complex induces mitochondrial dysfunction in triple-negative breast cancer. iScience 2022; 25:104340. [PMID: 35602949 PMCID: PMC9117869 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemical agents that specifically exploit metabolic vulnerabilities of cancer cells will be beneficial but are rare. The role of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) in promoting and maintaining triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) growth provides new treatment opportunity. In this work, we describe AuPhos-19, a small-molecule gold(III)-based agent bearing a chiral phosphine ligand that selectively disrupts mitochondrial metabolism in murine and human TNBC cells but not normal epithelial cells. AuPhos-19 induces potent cytotoxic effect with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) in the nanomolar range (220-650 nM) across different TNBC cell lines. The lipophilic cationic character of AuPhos-19 facilitates interaction with mitochondrial OXPHOS. AuPhos-19 inhibits mitochondria respiration and induces significant AMPK activation. Depolarization of the mitochondria membrane, mitochondria ROS accumulation, and mitochondria DNA depletion provided further indication that AuPhos-19 perturbs mitochondria function. AuPhos-19 inhibits tumor growth in tumor-bearing mice. This study highlights the development of gold-based compounds targeting mitochondrial pathways for efficacious cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chibuzor Olelewe
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
| | - Jong Hyun Kim
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
| | - Samuel Ofori
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
| | - Randall T. Mertens
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
| | | | - Samuel G. Awuah
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
- Center for Pharmaceutical Research and Innovation, College of Pharmacy and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
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