Potent Chlorambucil-Platinum(IV) Prodrugs

The DNA-alkylating derivative chlorambucil was coordinated in the axial position to atypical cytotoxic, heterocyclic, and non-DNA coordinating platinum(IV) complexes of type, (where H is 1,10-phenanthroline, 5-methyl-1,10-phenanthroline or 5,6-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline, A is 1,2-diaminocyclohexane). The resultant platinum(IV)-chlorambucil prodrugs, , , and , were characterized using high-performance liquid chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance, ultraviolet-visible, circular dichroism spectroscopy, and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The prodrugs displayed remarkable antitumor potential across multiple human cancer cell lines compared to chlorambucil, cisplatin, oxaliplatin, and carboplatin, as well as their platinum(II) precursors, , , and . Notably, was exceptionally potent in HT29 colon, Du145 prostate, MCF10A breast, MIA pancreas, H460 lung, A2780, and ADDP ovarian cell lines, with GI values ranging between 2.7 and 21 nM. Moreover, significant production of reactive oxygen species was detected in HT29 cells after treatment with , , and up to 72 h compared to chlorambucil and the platinum(II) and (IV) precursors.