Organometallic Titanocene–Gold Compounds asPotential Chemotherapeutics in Renal Cancer. Study of their ProteinKinase Inhibitory Properties

摘要

Early–late transition metal TiAu2 compounds [(η-C5H5)2Ti{OC(O)CH2PPh2AuCl}2] (>3) and new [(η-C5H5)2Ti{OC(O)-4-C6H4PPh2AuCl}2] (>5) were evaluated as potential anticancer agents in vitro against renal and prostate cancer cell lines. The compounds were significantly more effective than monometallic titanocene dichloride and gold(I) [{HOC(O)RPPh2}AuCl] (R = −CH2– >6, −4-C₆H₄– >7) derivatives in renal cancer cell lines, indicating a synergistic effect of the resulting heterometallic species. The activity on renal cancer cell lines (for >5 in the nanomolar range) was considerably higher than that of cisplatin and highly active titanocene Y. Initial mechanistic studies in Caki-1 cells in vitro coupled with studies of their inhibitory properties on a panel of 35 kinases of oncological interest indicate that these compounds inhibit protein kinases of the AKT and MAPKAPK families with a higher selectivity toward MAPKAPK3 (IC₅₀>3 = 91 nM, IC₅₀>5 = 117 nM). The selectivity of the compounds in vitro against renal cancer cell lines when compared to a nontumorigenic human embryonic kidney cell line (HEK-293T) and the favorable preliminary toxicity profile on C57black6 mice indicatethat these compounds (especially >5) are excellent candidatesfor further development as potential renal cancer chemotherapeutics.