BABAK MARIA (SG)
BALYASNIKOVA IRINA VADIMOVNA (US)
UNIV NORTHWESTERN (US)
CN111574568A | 2020-08-25 |
AL-SAIF, F. A. ET AL.: "ynthesis, spectroscopic, and thermal investigation of transition and non-transition complexes of metformin as potential insulin-mimetic agents", JOURNAL OF THERMAL ANALYSIS AND CALORIMETRY, vol. 111, no. 3, 6 May 2012 (2012-05-06), pages 2079 - 2096, XP055747081, [retrieved on 20210603], DOI: 10.1007/S10973-012-2459-3
BERTRAND, B. ET AL.: "Exploring the potential of gold(III) cyclometallated compounds as cytotoxic agents: variations on the CAN theme", DALTON TRANSACTIONS, vol. 44, no. 26, 26 May 2015 (2015-05-26), pages 11911 - 11918, XP055577694, [retrieved on 20210603], DOI: 10.1039/C5DT01023C
Claims 1. A compound of formula (I): wherein, n is 0 or 1; Z is C, N, O, S, Si, C=O or C=S, Q1 and Q2 for each occurrence is independently selected from C, P or N, wherein at least one of Q1 or Q2 is N; R1, R2, R3 and R4 for each occurrence is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, and optionally substituted alkynyl, provided that at least one of R1, R2, R3 or R4 is an optionally substituted alkyl; R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, R11 and R12 for each occurrence is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, -X, -OR’, -SR’, -P(R’)2, -C(=O)OR’, C(=O)R’, -COX, -CX3, - NO2, -SO3H, -SO2R’, -N=O, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted amino, optionally substituted alkyloxy, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl, optionally substituted aryl, and optionally substituted heteroaryl, wherein R’ is independently hydrogen or an optionally substituted alkyl and X is halogen; and A is tosylate (OTs-), mesylate (OMs-), BF4-, NO3-, Cl- Br-, triflate (OTf-), ClO4-, bistriflimide (TFSI-), BPH4-, BPh4F-, tetrakis(1-imidazolyl)borate (BIm4-), tetrakis(2-thienyl)borate (BTh4- ), HPO42- or PF6. 2. The compound according to claim 1, wherein Q1 is N and Q2 is C or Q1 is C and Q2 is N. 3. The compound according to claim 1 or 2, wherein R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, R11 and R12 are hydrogen. 4. The compound according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein R3 and R4 are hydrogen. 5. The compound according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein R1 and R2 are independently optionally substituted alkyl. 6. The compound according to claim 5, wherein R1 and R2 are methyl. 7. The compound according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein R1 is hydrogen and R2 is a substituted alkyl. 8. The compound according to claim 7, wherein R2 is an arylalkyl. 9. The compound according to claim 8, wherein R2 has the following formula (II): wherein m is an integer from 1 to 10. 10. The compound according to claim 9, wherein m is 2. 11. The compound according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein n is 0. 12. The compound according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein n is 1 and Z is C or C=O. 13. The compound according to any one of the preceding claims, having the following formula (IIIa), (IIIb), (IIIc) or (IIId): 14. The compound according to any one of the preceding claims, having the following structure: 15. A method for preparing a compound according to any one of claims 1 to 14, the method comprising the step of contacting: a compound having the following formula (IV): with a compound having the following formula (V): wherein n is 0 or 1; Z is C, N, O, S, Si, C=O or C=S, Q1 and Q2 for each occurrence is independently selected from C, P or N, wherein at least one of Q1 or Q2 is N; R1, R2, R3 and R4 for each occurrence is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, and optionally substituted alkynyl, provided that at least one of R1, R2, R3 or R4 is an optionally substituted alkyl; R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, R11 and R12 for each occurrence is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, -X, -OR’, -SR’, -P(R’)2, -C(=O)OR’, C(=O)R’, -COX, -CX3, - NO2, -SO3H, -SO2R’, -N=O, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted amino, optionally substituted alkyloxy, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl, optionally substituted aryl, and optionally substituted heteroaryl, wherein R’ is independently hydrogen or an optionally substituted alkyl and X is halogen. 16. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound according to any one of claims 1 to 14 and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. 17. A method for treating cancer comprising the step of administering to a subject in need thereof a compound according to any one of claims 1 to 14 or a pharmaceutical composition according to claim 16. 18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the cancer is selected from the group consisting of carcinoma, sarcoma, lymphoma, leukemia, germ cell tumor, blastoma, brain cancer, medulloblastoma, glioma, head and neck cancer, oral cancer, laryngeal cancer, nasopharynx cancer, thyroid cancer, myeloid neoplasm, lung cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, small cell lung cancer, mesothelioma, liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, lymphoid neoplasm, bone cancer, ewing sarcoma, osteosarcoma, skeletal cancer, muscle cancer, rhabdomyosarcoma, skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, connective tissue cancer, fibrosarcoma, cartilage cancer, chondrosarcoma, nerve tissue cancer, neuroblastoma, gastric cancer, esophageal cancer, stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer, kidney cancer, bladder cancer, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, testicular cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, fallopian tube cancer, cervical cancer and metastatic cancer. 19. The method according to claim 28, wherein the cancer is selected from the group consisting of medulloblastoma, ewing sarcoma, osteosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, fibrosarcoma connective, chondrosarcoma, neuroblastoma,, esophageal cancer, head and neck cancer, gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer, glioma, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, prostate cancer, melanoma, mesothelioma, hepatocellular carcinoma, triple- negative breast cancer, colon cancer and metastatic cancer. |
(IIIa), (IIIb), (IIIc) (IIId) or (IIIe). [193] The compound may have the following structure:
, , , , or . [194] The compound may have the following structure:
, , , , , ,
, , or . [195] There is provided a method for preparing a compound as defined above, the method comprising the step of contacting: a compound having the following formula (IV): with a compound having the following formula (V): wherein n may be 0 or 1; Z may be C, N, O, S, Si, C=O or C=S, Q 1 and Q 2 for each occurrence may be independently selected from C, P or N, wherein at least one of Q 1 or Q 2 is N; R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 for each occurrence may be independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl, and optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, provided that at least one of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 or R 4 is an optionally substituted alkyl; R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , R 10 , R 11 and R 12 for each occurrence may be independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, -X, -OR’, -SR’, -P(R’)2, -C(=O)OR’, C(=O)R’, -COX, -CX3, -NO2, -SO3H, -SO2R’, -N=O, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted amino, optionally substituted alkyloxy, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl, optionally substituted aryl, and optionally substituted heteroaryl, wherein R’ is independently hydrogen or an optionally substituted alkyl and X is halogen. [196] There is provided a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound as defined above and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. [197] There is provided a method for treating cancer comprising the step of administering to a subject in need thereof a compound as defined above or a pharmaceutical composition as defined above. [198] There is provided a compound as defined above or a pharmaceutical composition as defined above for use as a medicament. [199] There is provided a compound as defined above or a pharmaceutical composition as defined above for use in the treatment of cancer. [200] There is provided the use of a compound as defined above or a pharmaceutical composition as defined above in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of cancer. [201] The cancer may be selected from the group consisting of carcinoma, sarcoma, lymphoma, leukemia, germ cell tumor, blastoma, brain cancer, medulloblastoma, glioma, head and neck cancer, oral cancer, laryngeal cancer, nasopharynx cancer, thyroid cancer, myeloid neoplasm, lung cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, small cell lung cancer, mesothelioma, liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, lymphoid neoplasm, bone cancer, ewing sarcoma, osteosarcoma, skeletal cancer, muscle cancer, rhabdomyosarcoma, skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, connective tissue cancer, fibrosarcoma, cartilage cancer, chondrosarcoma, nerve tissue cancer, neuroblastoma, gastric cancer, esophageal cancer, stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer, kidney cancer, bladder cancer, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, testicular cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, fallopian tube cancer, cervical cancer and metastatic cancer. [202] The cancer may be selected from the group consisting of medulloblastoma, ewing sarcoma, osteosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, fibrosarcoma connective, chondrosarcoma, neuroblastoma,, esophageal cancer, head and neck cancer, gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer, glioma, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, prostate cancer, melanoma,-mesothelioma, hepatocellular carcinoma, triple-negative breast cancer, colon cancer and metastatic cancer. [203] The cancer may be breast cancer. The cancer may be triple negative breast cancer. [204] The compound as defined above or the pharmaceutical composition as defined above may also be useful in treating diseases, disorders or conditions mediated by the immune system. [205] In accordance with the present invention, when used for the treatment of cancer, compound(s) of the invention may be administered alone. Alternatively, the compounds may be administered as a pharmaceutical, veterinarial, agricultural, or industrial formulation which comprises at least one compound according to the invention. The compound(s) may also be present as suitable salts, including pharmaceutically acceptable salts. [206] Combinations of active agents, including compounds of the invention, may be synergistic. [207] By pharmaceutically acceptable salt it is meant those salts which, within the scope of sound medical judgement, are suitable for use in contact with the tissues of humans and lower animals without undue toxicity, irritation, allergic response and the like, and are commensurate with a reasonable benefit/risk ratio. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts are well known in the art. [208] For instance, suitable pharmaceutically acceptable salts of compounds according to the present invention may be prepared by mixing a pharmaceutically acceptable acid such as hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, methanesulfonic acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, benzoic acid, phosphoric acid, acetic acid, oxalic acid, carbonic acid, tartaric acid, or citric acid with the compounds of the invention. Suitable pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds of the present invention therefore include acid addition salts. [209] S. M. Berge et al. describe pharmaceutically acceptable salts in detail in J. Pharmaceutical Sciences, 1977, 66:1-19. The salts can be prepared in situ during the final isolation and purification of the compounds of the invention, or separately by reacting the free base function with a suitable organic acid. Representative acid addition salts include acetate, adipate, alginate, ascorbate, asparate, benzenesulfonate, benzoate, bisulfate, borate, butyrate, camphorate, camphorsulfonate, citrate, digluconate, cyclopentanepropionate, dodecylsulfate, ethanesulfonate, fumarate, glucoheptonate, glycerophosphate, hemisulfate, heptonate, hexanoate, hydrobromide, hydrochloride, hydroiodide, 2-hydroxy-ethanesulfonate, lactobionate, lactate, laurate, lauryl sulfate, malate, maleate, malonate, methanesulfonate, 2- naphthalenesulfonate, nicotinate, nitrate, oleate, oxalate, palmitate, pamoate, pectinate, persulfate, 3-phenylpropionate, phosphate, picrate, pivalate, propionate, stearate, succinate, sulfate, tartrate, thiocyanate, toluenesulfonate, undecanoate, valerate salts, and the like. Representative alkali or alkaline earth metal salts include sodium, lithium potassium, calcium, magnesium, and the like, as well as non-toxic ammonium, quaternary ammonium, and amine cations, including, but not limited to ammonium, tetramethylammonium, tetraethylammonium, methylamine, dimethylamine, trimethylamine, triethylamine, ethylamine, triethanolamine and the like. [210] Convenient modes of administration include injection (subcutaneous, intravenous, etc.), oral administration, inhalation, transdermal application, topical creams or gels or powders, or rectal administration. Depending on the route of administration, the formulation and/or compound may be coated with a material to protect the compound from the action of enzymes, acids and other natural conditions which may inactivate the therapeutic activity of the compound. The compound may also be administered parenterally or intraperitoneally. [211] Dispersions of the compounds according to the invention may also be prepared in glycerol, liquid polyethylene glycols, and mixtures thereof and in oils. Under ordinary conditions of storage and use, pharmaceutical preparations may contain a preservative to prevent the growth of microorganisms. [212] Pharmaceutical compositions suitable for injection include sterile aqueous solutions (where water soluble) or dispersions and sterile powders for the extemporaneous preparation of sterile injectable solutions or dispersions. Ideally, the composition is stable under the conditions of manufacture and storage and may include a preservative to stabilise the composition against the contaminating action of microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. [213] In one embodiment of the invention, the compound(s) of the invention may be administered orally, for example, with an inert diluent or an assimilable edible carrier. The compound(s) and other ingredients may also be enclosed in a hard or soft shell gelatin capsule, compressed into tablets, or incorporated directly into an individual's diet. For oral therapeutic administration, the compound(s) may be incorporated with excipients and used in the form of ingestible tablets, buccal tablets, troches, capsules, elixirs, suspensions, syrups, wafers, and the like. Suitably, such compositions and preparations may contain at least 1% by weight of active compound. The percentage of the compound(s) in pharmaceutical compositions and preparations may, of course, be varied and, for example, may conveniently range from about 2% to about 90%, about 5% to about 80%, about 10% to about 75%, about 15% to about 65%; about 20% to about 60%, about 25% to about 50%, about 30% to about 45%, or about 35% to about 45%, of the weight of the dosage unit. The amount of compound in therapeutically useful compositions is such that a suitable dosage will be obtained. [214] The language "pharmaceutically acceptable carrier" is intended to include solvents, dispersion media, coatings, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agents, isotonic and absorption delaying agents, and the like. The use of such media and agents for pharmaceutically active substances is well known in the art. Except insofar as any conventional media or agent is incompatible with the compound, use thereof in the therapeutic compositions and methods of treatment and prophylaxis is contemplated. Supplementary active compounds may also be incorporated into the compositions according to the present invention. It is especially advantageous to formulate parenteral compositions in dosage unit form for ease of administration and uniformity of dosage. "Dosage unit form" as used herein refers to physically discrete units suited as unitary dosages for the individual to be treated; each unit containing a predetermined quantity of compound(s) is calculated to produce the desired therapeutic effect in association with the required pharmaceutical carrier. The compound(s) may be formulated for convenient and effective administration in effective amounts with a suitable pharmaceutically acceptable carrier in an acceptable dosage unit. In the case of compositions containing supplementary active ingredients, the dosages are determined by reference to the usual dose and manner of administration of the said ingredients. [215] In one embodiment, the carrier may be an orally administrable carrier. [216] Another form of a pharmaceutical composition is a dosage form formulated as enterically coated granules, tablets or capsules suitable for oral administration. [217] Also included in the scope of this invention are delayed release formulations. [218] In one embodiment, the compound may be administered by injection. In the case of injectable solutions, the carrier can be a solvent or dispersion medium containing, for example, water, ethanol, polyol (for example, glycerol, propylene glycol, and liquid polyetheylene glycol, and the like), suitable mixtures thereof, and vegetable oils. The proper fluidity can be maintained, for example, by the use of a coating such as lecithin, by the maintenance of the required particle size in the case of dispersion and by the use of surfactants. Prevention of the action of microorganisms can be achieved by including various anti-bacterial and/or anti-fungal agents. Suitable agents are well known to those skilled in the art and include, for example, parabens, chlorobutanol, phenol, benzyl alcohol, ascorbic acid, thimerosal, and the like. In many cases, it may be preferable to include isotonic agents, for example, sugars, polyalcohols such as mannitol, sorbitol, sodium chloride in the composition. Prolonged absorption of the injectable compositions can be brought about by including in the composition an agent which delays absorption, for example, aluminium monostearate and gelatin. [219] Sterile injectable solutions can be prepared by incorporating the compound in the required amount in an appropriate solvent with one or a combination of ingredients enumerated above, as required, followed by filtered sterilisation. Generally, dispersions are prepared by incorporating the comopund into a sterile vehicle which contains a basic dispersion medium and the required other ingredients from those enumerated above. [220] Tablets, troches, pills, capsules and the like can also contain the following: a binder such as gum gragacanth, acacia, corn starch or gelatin; excipients such as dicalcium phosphate; a disintegrating agent such as corn starch, potato starch, alginic acid and the like; a lubricant such as magnesium stearate; and a sweetening agent such as sucrose, lactose or saccharin or a flavouring agent such as peppermint, oil of wintergreen, or cherry flavouring. When the dosage unit form is a capsule, it can contain, in addition to materials of the above type, a liquid carrier. Various other materials can be present as coatings or to otherwise modify the physical form of the dosage unit. For instance, tablets, pills, or capsules can be coated with shellac, sugar or both. A syrup or elixir can contain the analogue, sucrose as a sweetening agent, methyl and propylparabens as preservatives, a dye and flavouring such as cherry or orange flavour. Of course, any material used in preparing any dosage unit form should be pharmaceutically pure and substantially non-toxic in the amounts employed. In addition, the analogue can be incorporated into sustained-release preparations and formulations. [221] Preferably, the pharmaceutical composition may further include a suitable buffer to minimise acid hydrolysis. Suitable buffer agent agents are well known to those skilled in the art and include, but are not limited to, phosphates, citrates, carbonates and mixtures thereof. [222] Single or multiple administrations of the pharmaceutical compositions according to the invention may be carried out. One skilled in the art would be able, by routine experimentation, to determine effective, non-toxic dosage levels of the compound and/or composition of the invention and an administration pattern which would be suitable for treating the diseases and/or infections to which the compounds and compositions are applicable. [223] Further, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the optimal course of treatment, such as the number of doses of the compound or composition of the invention given per day for a defined number of days, can be ascertained using convention course of treatment determination tests. [224] Generally, an effective dosage per 24 hours may be in the range of about 0.0001 mg to about 50 mg per kg body weight; suitably, about 0.001 mg to about 50 mg per kg body weight; about 0.01 mg to about 50 mg per kg body weight; about 0.1 mg to about 50 mg per kg body weight; about 0.1 mg to about 50 mg per kg body weight; or about 1.0 mg to about 50 mg per kg body weight. More suitably, an effective dosage per 24 hours may be in the range of about 1.0 mg to about 50 mg per kg body weight; about 1.0 mg to about 25 mg per kg body weight; about 5.0 mg to about 50 mg per kg body weight; about 5.0 mg to about 20 mg per kg body weight; or about 5.0 mg to about 15 mg per kg body weight. [225] An effective dosage per 24 hours may be in the range of about 2 mg/kg to about 30 mg/kg, about 2 mg/kg to about 5 mg/kg, about 2 mg/kg to about 10 mg/kg, about 2 mg/kg to about 15 mg/kg, about 2mg/kg to about 20 mg/kg, about 5 mg/kg to about 10 mg/kg, about 10 mg/kg to about 15 mg/kg, about 10 mg/kg to about 20 mg/kg, about 10 mg/kg to about 30 mg/kg, about 10 mg/kg to about 15 mg/kg, about 10 mg/kg to about 20 mg/kg, about 10 mg/kg to about 30 mg/kg, about 15 mg/kg to about 20 mg/kg, about 15 mg/kg to about 30 mg/kg, or about 20 mg/kg to about 30 mg/kg. [226] Alternatively, an effective dosage may be up to about 500mg/m 2 . For example, generally, an effective dosage is expected to be in the range of about 25 to about 500mg/m 2 , about 25 to about 350mg/m 2 , about 25 to about 300mg/m 2 , about 25 to about 250mg/m 2 , about 50 to about 250mg/m 2 , and about 75 to about 150mg/m 2 . [227] An effective dosage routine may be once a week, twice a week, thrice a week, four times a week, five times a week, six times a week or daily. An effective dosage routine may be once every 2 days, once every day or twice every day. [228] The compound may be administered for a duration of a day, two days, three days, four days, five days, six days, a week, two weeks, three weeks or for a month. EXPERIMENTAL SECTION [229] Non-limiting examples of the disclosure and a comparative example will be further described in greater detail by reference to specific Examples, which should not be construed as in any way limiting the scope of the invention. Materials and Methods [230] Chemicals and solvents were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich or Tokyo Chemical Industry. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich in puriss quality. All solvents were of analytical grade and used without further purification. Clinical grade cisplatin (1 mg/mL) was purchased from Hospira Pty Ltd (Melbourne, Australia). IGEPAL CA-630, DL-dithiothreitol (DTT), tetramethylethylenediamine (TEMED), sodium deoxycholate, non-fat dried milk bovine, TWEEN® 20, ponceau S, propidium iodide (PI), Thioredoxin Reductase Assay kit (CS0170), salubrinal, formic acid and glutathione were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich (St Louis, MO, USA). Thiazolyl Blue tetrazolium bromide (MTT) was purchased from Alfa Aesar. Tris was purchased from Vivantis Technologies. Glycine, Hyclone TM Trypsin Protease 2.5% (10 x) solution, RPMI 1640, DMEM medium, Fetal bovine serum (FBS), Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA), Hank’s Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS) and Pierce TM Protease and Phosphatase Inhibitor Mini Tablets were purchased from Thermo Fisher Scientific. Hyclone TM Dulbecco's Phosphate-Buffered Saline (10 ^) were purchased from GE Healthcare Life Sciences. Biorad protein assay dye reagent concentrate, 30% Acrylamide/Bis solution, 5 x Laemmli Sample Buffer, Nitrocellulose Membrane (0.2 μm) were purchased from Bio-rad Laboratories. Luminata TM Classico and Crescendo Western HRP substrate were purchased from Merck Millipore Corporation. Milli-Q-grade purified water was obtained from a Milli-Q UV purification system (Sartorius Stedim Biotech S.A., Aubagne Cedex, France). All antibodies were obtained from Cell Signaling Technologies (Beverly, MA, USA). Nitric acid (65% to 71%, TraceSELECT Ultra) for ICP-MS analysis were obtained from Fluka (Sigma Aldrich) and used without further purification. Au and Re standards for ICP-MS measurements were obtained from CPI international (Amsterdam, The Netherlands). Annexin V-FITC apoptosis detection reagent (500X), Z-VAD(OMe)-FMK, SP600125, U0126, cycloheximide, 3- methyladenine, SB203580, chloroquine was purchased from Abcam (Cambridge, UK). Seahorse XF e 24 Cell MitoStress Test Kit and Seahorse and Seahorse XF e 24 Glycolysis Stress Test Kit were purchased from Seahorse Bioscience. DMSO for electrochemistry was of anhydrous quality (SeccoSolv®, max. 0.025% H 2 O) from Merck (Darmstadt, Germany) and used without further purification. Ferrocene (98%, Aldrich) was used as received. Tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate (nBu4NPF6, for electrochemical analysis, >99.0%) (from Sigma-Aldrich,) were dried under reduced pressure at 70 °C for 24 hours before use. pH 7 phosphate buffer from Jenway was used as received. [231] 1 H NMR spectra were obtained using a Bruker Avance 500 spectrometer, and the chemical shifts ( δ) were reported in parts per million with reference to residual solvent peaks. Electrospray-ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) spectra were obtained using a Thermo Finnigan MAT ESI-MS System. ICP-OES determination of Au content and elemental analysis were performed in Chemical, Molecular and Analysis Centre, National University of Singapore with Optima ICP-OES (Perkin Elmer, Watham, MA, USA) and PerkinElmer PE 2400 elemental analyzer. The absorbance of thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and TrxR activity was measured by synergy H1 hybrid multimode microplate reader (Bio-Tek, Winoosky, VT, USA). Au and Re contents in cells were determined by Agilent 7700 Series ICP-MS (Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA, USA). Flow cytometry was performed on BD LSRFortessa Cell Analyzer (BD Biosciences, Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA). Western blot images were generated from G:Box (Syngene, Cambride, UK). The UV‒vis spectrophotometric measurements were obtained using a Shimadzu UV-1800 UV spectrophotometer. The UV–vis spectra in buffered aqueous solutions were recorded using a UV-3600 UV–vis–NIR spectrophotometer (Shimadzu, Japan) with a 1 cm square quartz cell at 22 °C or 37 °C (temperature was controlled using Shimadzu TCC-240A thermoelectrically temperature controller cell holder). Analytical RP-HPLC analysis was carried out with Shimadzu Prominence HPLC controlled by Dionex Chromeleon 6.60 software (Kyoto, Japan). The experimental conditions were as follows: column - Shim-Pack VP-ODS C18 column (150 mm × 4.6 mm), mobile phases - acetonitrile and water, flow rate - 0.3 mL/min, UV-vis detection at 233 nm. A concentration of 0.25 mM was used for the investigated complexes (injection volume 20 μL). The solvent gradient was as follows: 10-30% of acetonitrile within 0-15 min, 30-95% of acetonitrile within 15-30 min, 95-10% of acetonitrile within 35-36 min. Oxygen Consumption Rate (OCR) and Extracellular Acidification Rate (ECAR) were measured using Seahorse XF e 24 Cell Bioanalyzer (Seahorse Biosciences). Kinase screening was performed at the International Centre for Kinase profiling (University of Dundee, UK) according to literature procedure (Bain J, Plater L, Elliott M, Shpiro N, Hastie CJ, McLauchlan H, et al. The selectivity of protein kinase inhibitors: a further update. Biochem J 2007;408:297-315). [232] Single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Single crystal X-ray diffraction was performed using either Bruker D8 Venture or Bruker SMART APEX X-ray diffractometer. Single crystals of 1met* and 2met formed after several days in mother liquor at room temperature and 4 °C, respectively. Crystals were measured at low temperature (T = 100 K) on a four circles goniometer using monochromatized Mo X-ray radiation ( λ = 0.71073 Å). Frames were integrated with the Bruker SAINT software package using a narrow-frame algorithm. Data were corrected for absorption effects using the multi-scan method implanted in the software (SADABS). Structure was solved using direct methods and subsequent differences Fourier maps, and then refined by least squares procedures on weighted F 2 values using the SHELXL-version 2014/6 included in WinGX system programs for Windows. All non-hydrogen atoms were assigned anisotropic displacement parameters. H-atoms were located on difference Fourier maps then introduced as fixed contributors in idealized geometry with an isotropic thermal parameters fixed at 20% higher than those carbons atoms they were attached. [233] NMR- and MS-based stability studies. NMR and mass spectrometric (MS) methods were employed to characterize the stability of Au complexes in DMSO and aqueous media. 1 H NMR stability studies were performed over the period of 6-10 days in d 6 -DMSO and D2O ( 1met*). For MS stability studies compounds were diluted in ammonium carbonate buffer (pH 7.4, 25 mM) to a concentration of 5 µM at 37 °C. The compounds were incubated with and without glutathione (1 molar eq.) and were incubated for 1, 3 and 24 hours and aliquots of these time points were subsequently further diluted 1 : 1 v/v with methanol to a final concentration of 2.5 µM. The samples were analysed on a Synapt G2-Si time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOF-MS, Waters, Milford, United States) by direct infusion (DI) at a flow rate of 180 µL/h. Mass spectra were acquired and averaged over 0.5 minutes and processed using MassLynx V4.1 (Waters, Milford, United States). The instrumental parameters were as follows: 2.85 kV capillary voltage, 120 °C source temperature, 180 °C desolvation temperature, 240 L h -1 desolvation gas and <6 bar nebulizer pressure. [234] Cyclic voltammetry and spectroelectrochemistry. Cyclic voltammetry experiments with approximately 0.5 mM solutions of investigated gold complexes in 0.1 M nBu4NPF6 supporting electrolyte in dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) or in pH 7 buffered solutions were performed under argon atmosphere using a three-electrode arrangement with glassy carbon 1 mm disc working electrode (from Ionode, Australia), platinum wire as counter electrode, and silver wire as pseudo-reference electrode. Ferrocene (Fc) served as the internal potential standard for DMSO and potassium hexacyanoferrate(II) for aqueous solutions. A Heka PG310USB (Lambrecht, Germany) potentiostat with a PotMaster 2.73 software package served for the potential control in voltammetry studies. In situ ultraviolet-visible-near-infrared (UV‒vis‒ NIR) spectroelectrochemical measurements were performed on a spectrometer Avantes (Model AvaSpec-2048x14-USB2) in the spectroelectrochemical cell kit (AKSTCKIT3) with the Pt- microstructured honeycomb working electrode (1.7 mm optical path length), purchased from Pine Research Instrumentation. The cell was positioned in the CUV‒UV Cuvette Holder (Ocean Optics) connected to the diode-array UV‒vis‒NIR spectrometer by optical fibres. UV‒vis‒NIR spectra were processed using the AvaSoft 7.7 software package. Halogen and deuterium lamps were used as light sources (Avantes, Model AvaLight-DH-S-BAL). [235] Cell lines and culture conditions. Human ovarian carcinoma cells A2780 and A2780cisR, and human breast adenocarcinoma MDA-MB-231 cells, murine hepatocytes TAMH and human cardiomyocytes AC10 were obtained from ATCC. A2780 and A2780cisR cells were cultured in RPMI 1640 medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). MDA-MB-231, TAMH and AC10 cells were cultured in DMEM medium containing 10% FBS. A2780 and A2780cisR cells were grown in tissue culture 25 cm 2 flasks (BD Biosciences, Singapore) and MDA-MB-231 cells were grown in tissue culture 75 cm 2 flasks (BD Biosciences, Singapore) at 37 °C in a humidified atmosphere of 95% air and 5% CO 2 . All stock solutions except 1met* and metformin were prepared in DMSO and the final concentration of DMSO in medium did not exceed 1% (v/v) at which cell viability was not inhibited. The amount of actual Au concentration in stock solutions was determined by ICP-OES. The stock solution of 1met* and metformin was prepared in sterile water. The stock of cisplatin was commercially available clinical grade solution in saline buffer. [236] Inhibition of cell viability assay. The cytotoxicity of the compounds was determined by colorimetric MTT assay. The cells were harvested from culture flasks by trypsinization and seeded into Cellstar 96-well microculture plates at the seeding density of 6000 cells per well (6 x10 4 cells/mL). TAMH and AC10 cells were seeded at 12000 and 5000 cells per well, respectively. After cells were allowed to resume exponential growth for 24 hours, they were exposed to drugs at different concentrations in media for 72 hours. The drugs were diluted in complete medium at the desired concentration and added to each well (100 ^L) and serially diluted to other wells. After exposure for 72 hours, the media was replaced with MTT in media (5 mg/mL, 100 μL) and incubated for additional 45 minutes. Subsequently, the medium was aspirated and the purple formazan crystals formed in viable cells were dissolved in DMSO (100 ^L). Optical densities were measured at 570 nm using the BioTek H1 Synergy microplate reader. The quantity of viable cells was expressed in terms of treated/control (T/C) values by comparison to untreated control cells, and 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC 50 ) were calculated from concentration-effect curves by interpolation. Evaluation was based on means from at least three independent experiments, each comprising six replicates per concentration level. For experiments with inhibitors, MDA-MB-231 cells were seeded at the seeding density of 8000 cells per well (8 x10 4 cells/mL). After cells were allowed to resume exponential growth for 24 hours, they were pre-treated with SP600125 (20 μM), SB203580 (20 ^M), U0126 (20 ^M), Z-VAD-FMK (20 μM), salubrinal (10 μM), MDIVI-1 (20 μM) or cycloheximide (12.5 ^M) for 1 hours and then co-treated with 3met for 24 hours. [237] Cellular accumulation. Cellular accumulation of Au complexes was determined in MDA- MB-231 cells. Cells were seeded into Cellstar 6-well plates (Greiner Bio-one) at a density of 60 x 10 4 cells/well (2 mL per well). After the cells were allowed to resume exponential growth for 24 hours, they were exposed to compounds of interest at various concentrations for 24 hours at 37 °C. The cells were washed twice with 1 mL of PBS and lysed with RIPA lysis buffer for 5–10 min at 4 °C. The cell lysates were scraped from the wells and transferred to separate 1.5 mL microtubes. The supernatant was then collected after centrifugation (13000 rpm, 4 °C for 15 minutes) and total protein content of each sample was quantified via Bradford’s assay. Cell lysates were transferred to 2 mL glass vials and then digested with ultrapure 65% HNO3 at 100 °C for 24 hours. The resulting solution was diluted to 1 mL (2‒4% v/v HNO3) with ultrapure Milli- Q water. Au content of each sample was quantified by ICP-MS. Re was used as an internal standard. Au and Re were measured at m/z 197 and m/z 186, respectively. Metal standards for calibration curve (0, 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 40 ppb) were freshly prepared before each measurement. All readings were made in triplicates in He mode. [238] Western blotting. MDA-MB-231 cells were seeded into Cellstar 6-well plates (Greiner Bio-One) at a density of 60 x 10 4 cells/well (2 mL per well). After the cells were allowed to resume exponential growth for 24 hours, they were exposed to compounds of interest at various concentrations for 2, 6 and 24 hours. The cells were washed twice with PBS and lysed with RIPA buffer (50-100 μL) and kept for 5–10 minutes at 4 °C. The samples were sonicated in ice bath (3 times for 30 seconds). The supernatant was then collected after centrifugation (1.3 x 10 4 rpm, 4 °C for 15 minutes) and total protein content of each sample was quantified via Bradford’s assay. Equal quantities of protein (50 μg) were reconstituted in loading buffer (5 ^ Laemmli Buffer with 5% DTT) and heated at 100°C for 10 minutes. Subsequently, the protein mixtures were resolved on a 8%, 10% or 12% SDS-PAGE gel by electrophoresis (90 V for 30 minutes followed by 120 V for 60 minutes) and transferred onto a nitrocellulose membrane (200 mA for 2 hours). The protein bands were visualised with Ponceau S stain solution and the nitrocellulose membranes were cut into strips based on the protein ladder. The membranes were washed with a TBS-T wash buffer (0.1% Tween-20 in 1 ^ PBS) 3 times for 5 minutes. Subsequently, they were blocked in 5% BSA (w/v) in wash buffer for 1 hour and incubated with the appropriate primary antibodies in 5% BSA (w/v) in wash buffer at 4 °C overnight. The membranes were washed with a wash buffer 3 times for 7 minutes. After incubation with HRP-conjugated secondary antibodies in 2% BSA (w/v) in wash buffer (room temperature, 2 hours), the membranes were washed with a wash buffer 4 x for 5 minutes. Immune complexes were detected with Luminata HRP substrates and analysed using enhanced chemiluminescence imaging. Actin was used as a loading control. The following primary monoclonal antibodies: p-mTOR, p-AMPK, BiP, CHOP, p-JNK, cleaved PARP, cleaved caspase-3, LC3, p-Ulk1(ser757), p62, β-actin and secondary HRP-linked antibody were obtained from Cell Signalling Technology. All antibodies were used at 1:2000 dilutions except secondary antibody (1:5000). [239] Thioredoxin reductase inhibition assay. Assay was performed according to the protocol provided by the manufacturer. Briefly, 180 μl of working buffer [100 mM pH 7.0 potassium phosphate, 10 mM EDTA, and 0.24 mM NADPH], 8 μl of 1 x assay buffer [100 mM pH 7.0 potassium phosphate and 10 mM EDTA], and 2 μl of total rat TxR enzyme solution (10 ng) were added to each well of a Corning clear 96-well plate. Compounds of interest were serially diluted at the separate 96-well plate and 4 ^l of each concentration was added to the appropriate wells. The reaction mixture was incubated with gentle shaking (room temperature, 30 minutes). Subsequently, 6 μl of DNTB (100 mM) was added and incubated for an additional 3 minutes. Thereafter, the absorbance at 412 nm was measured every minute for 30 minutes. % enzyme activity at each concentration was calculated from the data obtained with reference to the control sample and half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) was calculated from concentration-effect curves by interpolation. [240] Annexin V/PI apoptosis assay. MDA-MB-231 cells were seeded into Cellstar 12-well plates (Greiner Bio-One) at a density of 20 x10 4 cells/well (1 mL per well). The cells were allowed to resume exponential growth for 24 hours and subsequently they were exposed for 24 hours to compounds of interest at concentrations corresponding to 1.5IC50 values. After the supernatant solution was collected in 1.5 mL microtubes, the cells were washed with 100 μl of trypsin, which was combined with the supernatant. Subsequently, cells were trypsinized with 200 μl of trypsin for 5 minutes at 37 °C, 5% CO 2 , washed with 200 μl of PBS and combined with the supernatant. The cells were centrifuged at 2.5 ^10 3 rpm for 5 minutes and the pellets were washed once with PBS and resuspended in 500 μl of Annexin V binding buffer and stained with Annexin V-FITC and PI reagents. The fluorescence was immediately analyzed by flow cytometry. The resulting dot blots were acquired from 10 000 events and quantified using Flowjo software (Flowjo LLC, Ashland, OR, USA). [241] Mitochondrial bioenergetics (MitoStress assay): Oxygen Consumption Rate (OCR) was monitored by using Seahorse XF e 24 Cell MitoStress Test Kit (Seahorse Bioscience). Prior to the assay, XF sensor cartridges were hydrated. MDA-MB-231 cells were seeded onto XF e 24-well cell culture plates at a density of 4 x 10 4 cells/well in 250 μL DMEM complete growth medium and then incubated for 48 h at 37 °C in 5% CO 2 incubator. The cells were subsequently exposed to compounds of interest at different concentrations for 24 hours. The wells were washed with 250 μL of pre-warmed Seahorse XF DMEM media, supplemented with 10 mM glucose, 1 mM sodium pyruvate and 2 mM glutamine, pH 7.4 and replaced with 525 μL of this media. The plate was incubated at 37 °C in a non-CO2 incubator for 1 hour before the measurement. Three baseline measurements of OCR were recorded and 1 μM of olygomycin (ATP synthase complex inhibitor), 1 μM of FCCP (ATP synthesis uncoupler trifluorocarbonylcyanide phenylhydrazone) and a mixture of 0.5 μM of antimycin-A (inhibitor of complex III) and 0.5 μM of rotenone (inhibitor of electron transfer from Fe-S center of complex I to ubiquinone) were added in sequence. OCR was measured using Seahorse XF e 24 Cell Bioanalyzer (Seahorse Biosciences). The media was removed from the wells and 60 μL of 0.1 M NaOH was added. After vigorous pipetting, the protein content was quantified by BCA assay and OCR was normalized per protein content. [242] Glycolysis Stress Test assay: Extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) was monitored by using Seahorse XF e 24 Glycolysis Stress Test Kit (Seahorse Bioscience). Prior to the assay, XF sensor cartridges were hydrated. MDA-MB-231 cells were seeded onto XF e 24-well cell culture plates at a density of 4 x 10 4 cells/well in 250 μL DMEM complete growth medium and then incubated for 48 hours at 37 °C in 5% CO 2 incubator. The cells were subsequently exposed to compounds of interest at different concentrations for 24 hours. The wells were washed with 250 μL of pre-warmed Seahorse XF DMEM media, supplemented with 100 mM glutamine, pH 7.4 and replaced with 525 μL of this media. The plate was incubated at 37 °C in a non-CO2 incubator for 1 hour before the measurement. Three baseline measurements of ECAR were recorded and 10 mM of glucose, 1 μM of olygomycin and 100 mM of 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) were added in sequence. ECAR was measured using Seahorse XF e 24 Cell Bioanalyzer (Seahorse Biosciences). The media was removed from the wells and 60 μL of 0.1 M NaOH was added. After vigorous pipetting, the protein content was quantified by BCA assay and OCR was normalized per protein content. [243] Animal experiments: 6-week-old female athymic nude mice were purchased from Invigo. Animals were housed in animal-holding units at Center for Comparative Medicine, Northwestern University in a pathogen-free environment at constant temperature in a 12/12-hour light/dark cycle. All animal procedures were carried out in accordance with a protocol approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, Protocol number: IS00002999. Animals were acclimatized for 2 weeks following arrival before the beginning of experiments. Mice were allowed free access to food and water. To identify the MTD, mice were daily injected via i.p. route with 5, 10, 15 and 20 mg/kg of 3met (3-4 mice per group) for 4-5 days. All mice were bright, alert and responsive during the whole study. On day 6, only mice receiving 20 mg/kg demonstrated weight loss (11%) with no other signs of toxicity; therefore, the MTD chosen for activity study was 15 mg/kg. MDA-MB-231 cells expressing firefly luciferase were collected by trypsinization and mixed with Matrigel (1:1) for fat pad injections. The MDA-MB-231 cell/matrigel mixture (100 µl) was injected into the fat pad of the fourth mammary glands on both sides of 6-week-old female athymic nude-Foxn1 nu mice (Envigo) at 2.5 x 10 5 cells/gland under ketamine/xylazine anesthesia (50- 100/5-10 mg/kg). Ketaprofen and Buprenophrine SR were injected subcutaneously for pain management at 2-5 mg/kg and 0.5-1 mg/kg, respectively. The growth of tumors was monitored by live animal imaging. Once tumors became palpable (week 2 after tumor implantation), treatment was initiated. Animals were separated into two groups (7 mice in each group) and tumor dimensions were measured using a caliper by width x length (mm 2 ). Drug-treated group was injected with 15 mg/kg of 3met in 0.9% sterile saline with 10% DMSO, whereas control group was injected with 0.9% sterile saline with 10% DMSO as a vehicle. Treatment was performed on days 14, 16 and 18 and repeated in a similar fashion during weeks 4 and 5. Animals were sacrificed on week 6. Animals were controlled for distress development. Their weight changes were monitored every 2-3 days for 6 weeks. The transient weight loss was observed in a drug-treated group on day 18, which returned back to normal at week 4. Two mice died in a drug-treated group and one mouse was sacrificed during anaesthesia. Statistical analysis was done by Student’s unpaired T-test and One-way Anova test with post-hoc Dunnett test using GraphPad Prism 9 software. [244] Organ distribution studies: At the experimental endpoint, the hearts were perfused with PBS immediately before the excision of the organs. Brain, liver, kidney, spleen, heart, lung, bone and tumor tissues were collected from each mouse and flash-frozen in liquid nitrogen. The organs of the vehicle-treated mouse were used for the measurements of the background. The organs were lyophilized for 4 days, weighed, mechanically minced and digested in 100 µl of ultrapure 65% HNO 3 at 105°C for 3 days. The resulting solution was diluted to 2% v/v HNO 3 with ultrapure Milli-Q water. Gold content was measured by ICP-MS as described above. [245] Histopathological examination: Tumor, liver and kidney tissues were fixed in 10% buffered formalin overnight and washed twice with PBS. Tissues were then embedded in paraffin. Sections with a thickness of 4 µm were prepared, deparaffinised in xylene (twice) and rehydrated in a graded series of alcohol (two times 100% alcohol and 75% alcohol) and distilled water. Later, sections were stained with a haematoxylin solution, rinsed in water, passed through a 70% ethanol solution containing 1% HCl, and rinsed again with tap water. Sections were stained with eosin for 5 minutes and rinsed with absolute alcohol and xylene for 5 minutes. The slides were scanned using Hamamatsu K.K. Nanozoomer 2.0 HT instrument. All tissue slides were processed with QuPath software. For tumor slides algorithms for tumor and necrosis quantification with random trees pixel classifiers were used with color designation as red is tumor, green is stroma and necrosis is black. Synthesis of cyclometalated Au III complexes [246] Cyclometalated Au III -dichlorido precursors with the general formula [Au III (C^N)Cl2] 1-3 (C^N = 2-phenylpyridine (1), 2-benzylpyridine (2) and 2-benzoylpyridine (3)) were prepared from KAuCl 4 under microwave conditions or under reflux with AgOTf and subsequently reacted with 2 eq. of metformin or phenformin hydrochloride in methanol (Figure 2). For precursor 3, the reflux synthesis yielded significantly better results compared to the microwave synthesis. [247] Microwave synthesis: To a clear yellow solution of KAuCl4 (300 mg, 0.80 mmol) in ultrapure water (5 ml), 1.05 eq. of either 2-phenylpyridine (1) (120 µl, 0.84 mmol), 2-benzylpyridine (2) (134 µl, 0.84 mmol) or 2-benzoylpyridine (3) (153 mg, 0.84 mmol) in 1 ml of ethanol was added dropwise which yielded a yellow precipitate. The reaction mixture was sonicated for 15 minutes before being subjected to microwave irradiation at a variable power with constant temperature for 45 minutes with vigorous stirring (140°C, 70-90 bar). No changes in colour were observed. The suspension was centrifuged and yellow supernatant was discarded. The solid residue was washed with copious amounts of water (15 ml × 3), until it became white. Then it was washed with methanol (15 mL × 2) and diethyl ether (5 mL × 3) before being dried in vacuo. The crude products were used for further synthesis without additional purification. The purity of the products was confirmed by analytical HPLC. [248] Reflux synthesis: To a clear yellow solution of KAuCl4 (300 mg, 0.80 mmol) in ultrapure water (5 ml), 1.05 eq. of either 2-phenylpyridine (1) (120 µl, 0.84 mmol), 2-benzylpyridine (2) (134 µl, 0.84 mmol) or 2-benzoylpyridine (3) (153 mg, 0.84 mmol) in 1 ml of ethanol was added dropwise which yielded a yellow precipitate. A yellow precipitate was isolated, washed with diethyl ether and dried.1 eq. of each intermediate was dissolved in 7 ml of acetonitrile and1.05 eq. of silver triflate was added. The reaction mixture was refluxed at 85 ^C overnight. The hot filtrate was filtered to remove impurities and concentrated in vacuo to provide a precipitate, which was filtered off and washed with acetonitrile (5 ml), methanol (5 ml) and diethyl ether (5 mL × 3) before being dried in vacuo. [249] (2-phenylpyridine)AuCl2 (scaffold 1): Yield: 230 mg (65%). 1 H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO- d 6 ): δ (ppm) = 9.84 (dd, J = 4.8, 1.2 Hz, 1H), 8.14 (td, J = 5.9, 1.2 Hz, 1H), 8.07 (dd, J = 6.0, 0.9 Hz, 1H), 7.91 (dd, J = 5.1, 0.9 Hz, 1H), 7.56 (dd, J = 5.7, 1.2 Hz, 1H), 7.51 (td, J = 5.3, 0.9 Hz, 1H), 7.41 (dd, J = 5.9, 0.9 Hz, 1H), 7.38 (m, 1H). [250] (2-benzylpyridine)Au III Cl 2 (2): Yield: 30%. RP-HPLC (% Purity): >99.9%, t r = 7.8 min. 1 H NMR (300 MHz, DMSO-d 6 ): δ (ppm) = 9.17 (dd, 3 J H-H = 6.0 Hz, 4 J H-H = 1.5 Hz, 1H), 8.26 (td, 3 J H-H = 7.8 Hz, 4 J H-H = 1.5 Hz, 1H), 7.99 (dd, 3 JH-H = 7.8, 4 J H-H = 1.5 Hz, 1H), 7.69 (ddd, 3 J H-H = 7.8 Hz, 3 J H-H = 5.7 Hz, 4 J H-H = 1.5 Hz, 1H), 7.41 (dd, 3 JH-H = 8.0 Hz, 4 J H-H = 1.6 Hz, 1H), 7.25 (dd, 3 JH-H = 7.5 Hz, 4 J H-H = 1.8 Hz, 1H), 7.18 (td, 3 J H-H = 7.5 Hz, 4 J H-H = 1.8 Hz, 1H), 7.08 (ddd, 3 JH-H = 7.8 Hz, 3 J H-H = 7.5 Hz, 4 J H-H = 1.8 Hz, 1H), 4.60 (d, 2 J H-H = 15.3 Hz, 1H), 4.33 (d, 2 J H-H = 15.3 Hz, 1H). [251] (2-benzoylpyridine)Au III Cl 2 (3): Yield: 27%. RP-HPLC (% Purity): >99.9%, t r = 7.9 min. 1 H NMR (300 MHz, DMSO-d 6 ): δ (ppm) = 9.48 (dd, 3 J H-H = 6.0 Hz, 4 J H-H = 1.2 Hz, 1H), 8.55 (td, 3 J H-H = 7.8 Hz, 4 J H-H = 1.2 Hz, 1H), 8.36 (dd, 3 J H-H = 7.8, 4 J H-H = 1.5 Hz, 1H), 8.08 (ddd, 3 J H-H = 7.8 Hz, 3 J H-H = 5.7 Hz, 4 J H-H = 1.2 Hz, 1H), 7.76 (m, 1H), 7.69 (m, 1H), 7.49 (m, 2H). [252] The [Au III (C^N)Cl 2 ] 1-3 complexes were subsequently reacted with 2 eq. of metformin or phenformin hydrochloride and 4 eq. of t BuOK in methanol, yielding five novel organometallic Au III -metformin and phenformin complexes (1-3met, 1phen and 1met*, Figure 1 and Figure 2). The specific synthetic steps and characterization are as follows: [253] [Au III (2-phenylpyridine)(metformin)]Cl, ( 1met*): To 1 (0.2 mmol, 84 mg) was added 2 eq. of metformin hydrochloride (0.4 mmol, 67 mg) and 4.25 eq. of potassium tert-butylbutoxide (0.85 mg, 95 mg) in methanol (10 ml) and the mixture was stirred overnight at room temperature under protection from light. Quick precipitation with gradual change of colour from yellow to white was observed. The suspension was centrifuged and the white solid residue was washed with water (2 ml × 1), methanol (5 ml × 1) and diethyl ether (5 ml × 3) and dried in vacuo to give 54 mg of the final product. Yield: 52% (C 15 H 18 AuN 6 Cl - 514.09 g mol -1 ). 1 H NMR (300 MHz, D 2 O, major isomer): δ (ppm) = 7.97 (m, 1H), 7.55 (m, 2H), 7.30 (m, 1H), 7.21 (m, 1H), 7.07 (m, 1H), 6.92 (m, 1H), 6.48 (d, 3 JH-H = 7.8 Hz, 1H), 2.81 (s, 6H, -NMe2). Ratio of geometric isomers: 3:1. ESI-MS (+ve, m/z): calculated for: 479.1 [M + = C15H18AuN6 + ], found 479.0. ESI-MS/MS (+ve, m/z): calculated 434.1 [M–H–N(CH3)2] + , found 434.0. HR-ESI-MS for [M + = C15H18AuN6 + ]: calculated 479.1258, found 479.1258. Anal. Calculated for C 15 H 18 AuClN 6 *CH 3 OH*H 2 O: C 34.03, H 4.29, N 14.89. Found: C 33.90, H 4.62, N 14.83. It should be noted that 1met* can be used interchangeably with 1Met* and 1met-Cl. [254] [Au III (2-phenylpyridine)(metformin)]PF6, (1met): To a suspension of 1met* (0.10 mmol, 50 mg) in H2O (6 ml) was added solution of NH4PF6 (0.40 mmol, 65 mg) in H2O (0.5 ml) and stirred at room temperature for 1 hour under protection from light. A white jelly precipitate was formed. The solution was filtered to give a purple-white solid which was washed with water (2 ml × 2), dichloromethane (3 mL × 3) and diethyl ether (10 mL × 3) and dried in vacuo. Yield: 89% (C15H18AuN6PF6 - 624.09 g mol -1 ). The purity of the product was confirmed by analytical HPLC (retention time 8.0 min) and HR-ESI-MS. 1 H NMR (300 MHz, DMSO-d 6 ): δ = 8.85 (d, 3 JH-H = 6.2 Hz, 1H, ppy), 8.42 (m, 2H), 8.09 (m, 1H), 7.70 (m, 2H), 7.51 (m, 2H), 6.60 (s, 2H, NH2), 6.07 (s, 1H, NH), 5.93 (s, 1H, NH), 3.12 (s, 6H, NMe 2 ). ESI-MS (+ve, m/z): calculated 479.1 [M + = C 15 H 18 AuN 6 + ], found 479.0. ESI-MS (-ve, m/z): calculated 145.0 [PF 6 -], found 145.1. ESI-MS/MS (+ve, m/z): calculated 434.1 [M–H–N(CH3)2] + , found 434.0. HR-ESI-MS for [M + = C15H18AuN6 + ]: calculated 479.1258, found 479.1255. It should be noted that 1met can be used interchangeably with 1Met and 1met-PF 6 . [255] 2met , 3met and 1phen: To 1 (0.15 mmol, 63 mg), 2 (0.15 mmol, 65 mg) or 3 (0.15 mmol, 67 mg) was added 2 eq. of phenformin hydrochloride (0.30 mmol, 72 mg) or metformin hydrochloride (0.30 mmol, 49 mg) and 4 eq. of potassium tert-butylbutoxide (0.60 mmol, 67 mg) in methanol (10 ml), and the mixture was stirred overnight at r. t. under protection from light. No changes in colour were observed. The solution was centrifuged to remove any insoluble residues, placed on ice and solution of NH 4 PF 6 (0.60 mmol, 98 mg) in methanol (0.5 ml) was added dropwise. Subsequently, Et 2 O (30 ml) was added and solution was left at 4 ^C for 24 to 72 hours to give white or yellow precipitate, which was filtered and washed with water or methanol (2 ml × 2), dichloromethane (3 mL × 2) and diethyl ether (10 mL × 3) and dried in vacuo. Crystals suitable for X-ray diffraction analysis were grown by slow diffusion of diethyl ether into a methanol solution. The purity of the products was confirmed by analytical HPLC and HR-ESI-MS. [256] Au III (2-phenylpyridine)(phenformin)]PF 6 , (1phen): Yield: 49% (C 21 H 22 AuN 6 PF 6 - 700.12 g mol -1 ). RP-HPLC: t r = 8.0 min. 1 H NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d 6 , major isomer): δ = 8.81 (m, 1H), 8.43 (m, 2H), 8.07 (m, 1H), 7.79 (m, 1H, ppy), 7.68 (m, 1H), 7.50 (m, 2H), 7.37 - 7.26 (m, 5H), 7.10 (s, 1H, NH), 6.93 (s, 1H, NH), 6.68 (s, 2H, NH2), 3.53 (m, 2H, CH2), 2.82 (m, 2H, CH2). Ratio of geometric isomers: 3 : 1. ESI-MS (+ve, m/z): calculated 555.2 [M + = C21H22AuN6 + ], found 555.1. ESI-MS (-ve, m/z): calculated 145.0 [PF 6 -], found 145.1. ESI-MS/MS (+ve, m/z): calculated 434.1 [M–H–NH-C 2 H 4 -C 6 H 5 ] + , found 434.0. HR-ESI-MS for [M + = C 21 H 22 AuN 6 + ]: calculated 555.1571, found 555.1559. It should be noted that 1phen can be used interchangeably with 1Phen and 1phen-PF6 [257] Au III (2-benzylpyridine)(metformin)]PF6, (2met): Yield: 42% (C16H20AuN6PF6 - 638.11 g mol -1 ). RP-HPLC: tr = 7.9 min. 1 H NMR (300 MHz, DMSO-d 6 , major isomer): δ = 8.91 (d, 3 JH-H = 5.5 Hz, 1H), 8.26 (t, 3 J H-H = 7.5 Hz, 1H), 8.00 (d, 3 J H-H = 8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.68 (t, 3 J H-H = 8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.33 (d, 3 J H-H = 7.0 Hz, 1H), 7.30 (d, 3 J H-H = 7.0 Hz, 1H), 7.21 (m, 2H), 6.38 (s, 2H, NH 2 ), 6.19 (s, 1H, NH), 6.07 (s, 1H, NH), 4.51 (d, 2 JH-H = 15.0 Hz, 1H, CH2), 4.33 (d, 2 JH-H = 15.0 Hz, 1H, CH2), 3.02 (s, 6H, NMe2). Ratio of geometric isomers: 11 : 1. ESI-MS (+ve, m/z): calculated 493.1 [M + = C16H20AuN6 + ], found 493.1. ESI-MS (-ve, m/z): calculated 145.0 [PF6-], found 145.1. ESI-MS/MS (+ve, m/z): calculated 448.1 [M–H–N(CH 3 ) 2 ] + , found 448.0. HR-ESI-MS for [M + = C 16 H 20 AuN 6 + ]: calculated 493.1415, found 493.1403. It should be noted that 2met can be used interchangeably with 2Met and 2met-PF6. [258] Au III (2-benzoylpyridine)(metformin)]PF6, (3met): Yield: 48% (C16H18AuN6OPF6 - 652.08 g mol -1 ). RP-HPLC: tr = 8.1 min. 1 H NMR (300 MHz, DMSO-d 6 , major isomer): δ = 8.92 (d, 3 JH-H = 5.5 Hz, 1H), 8.18 (m, 2H), 7.83 (m, 3H), 7.61 (m, 1H), 7.48 (t, 3 JH-H = 7.5 Hz, 1H), 7.11 (s, 1H, NH), 6.59 (s, 1H, NH), 6.49 (s, 2H, NH 2 ), 3.06 (s, 6H, NMe 2 ). Ratio of geometric isomers: 2 : 1. ESI-MS (+ve, m/z): calculated 507.1 [M + = C 16 H 18 AuN 6 O + ], found 506.0. ESI-MS (-ve, m/z): calculated 145.0 [PF6-], found 145.1. ESI-MS/MS (+ve, m/z): calculated 462.1 [M–H–N(CH3)2] + , found 461.0. It should be noted that 3met can be used interchangeably with 3Met and 3met-PF6. [259] Complexes 1-3met and 1phen were isolated as PF6- salts in moderate yields. Additionally, the water-soluble Au III -metformin complex with 2-phenylpyridine 1met* was isolated as a Cl- salt by taking advantage of its relatively poor solubility in methanol and other organic solvents, resulting in direct precipitation from the reaction media. The solubility in methanol of all PF6- complexes was completely different from that of the Cl- complex. Only the Cl- complex was precipitated by methanol. All other compounds had to be precipitated by diethyl ether. [260] Upon coordination of the asymmetric metformin or phenformin to an Au III centre, complexes formed racemic mixtures of E- and Z- isomers, as was evidenced by two independent sets of 1 H NMR signals. Detailed synthesis and characterization of Au III complexes are presented in Figures 3 to 24, as summarized below in Table 1: [261] Table 1. Summary of the characterization of the compounds used and complexes made [262] Purity was assessed by RP-HPLC or elemental analysis and shown to be > 98% pure for all complexes (Figures 15 to 21). The solid-state structures of 1met* and 2met were analyzed by X-ray diffraction analysis (Tables 2 and 3) which confirmed the classical square planar coordination geometry of the Au III centre. [263] Table 2. Key bond lengths and angles observed in the molecular structures of 1met* (left) and 2met (right) as compared to uncoordinated metformin, 1, dimethylated analogue of 2 ([Au{NC 5 H 4 (CMe 2 C 6 H 4 )}Cl 2 ]) and 3, taken from Cambridge Structural Database.
(a) Hariharan M, Rajan SS, Srinivasan R. Structure of metformin hydrochloride. Acta Crystallogr, Sect C: Cryst Struct Commun 1989;C45:911-13 (b) Fan D, Yang C-T, Ranford JD, Lee PF, Vittal JJ. Chemical and biological studies of the dichloro(2- phenylpyridine) gold(III) complex and its derivatives. Dalton Trans 2003:2680-5 (c) Cinellu MA, Zucca A, Stoccoro S, Minghetti G, Manassero M, Sansoni M. Synthesis and characterization of gold(III) adducts and cyclometallated derivatives with 2-substituted pyridines. Crystal structure of [ Au{NC5H4(CMe2C6H4)-2}Cl2]. J Chem Soc, Dalton Trans 1995:2865-72 (d) Fuchita Y, Ieda h, Tsunemune Y, Kinoshita-Nagaoka J, Kawano H. Synthesis, structure and reactivity of a new six-membered cycloaurated complex of 2-benzoylpyridine [AuCl2(pcp-C1,N)] [pcp = 2-(2- pyridylcarbonyl)phenyl]. Comparison with the cycloaurated complex derived from 2-benzylpyridine. J Chem Soc, Dalton Trans 1998:791-6
[264] Table 3. Selected X-ray crystallographic data of 1met* and 2met. R = Σ||F o | - |F c ||/Σ|F o |, wR2 = {Σ[w(F o 2 - F c 2 ) 2 ]/Σ[w(F o 2 ) 2 ]} 1/2 . Goodness-of-fit (GOF) = {Σ[w(Fo 2 - Fc 2 ) 2 ]/(n - p)} 1/2 , where n is the number of data and p is the number of parameters refined. [265] Complex 1met* is largely flat with both the guanide and cyclomethylated motifs adopting a square planar geometry around the Au centre. The angle subtended by the guanide plane and the cyclomethylated Au ring plane was 4.3°, indicating that both motifs are coplanar. Extensive short contacts with the chloride anion extends across the solid structure, with ^- ^ stacking between closely packed molecules within the unit cell at distances of 3.37 Å apart. In contrast, 2met contained a pyridylbenzyl cyclometallated Au ligand that is bent out-of-plane due to its bridging methylene group. Both ligands bond Au centre in a square planar geometry that is expected to Au III . The packing of the 2met is characterized by extensive short contacts with PF 6 anions with the cations spaced further apart at 3.61 Å. Solubility of Au III -metformin and –phenformin complexes [266] To determine the speciation of the Au III complexes in aqueous solution, the compounds were incubated in ammonium carbonate buffer (pH 7.4) at 37 °C for 1, 3 and 24 hours and analyzed by high resolution ESI-MS. Compounds 1–3met were stable for 24 hours as evidenced by the detection of molecular ions [M] + (Table 4 and Figure 29), thus corroborating the NMR results. On the contrary, the [M] + signal for 1phen was not detected after 1 hour incubation, indicating lower stability in comparison with the Au III -metformin analogues (Figures 30 and 31). When 1phen was incubated in presence of GSH for the same time period, release of phenformin was detected at 206.1622 m/z (Figure 32), which was not observed in the absence of GSH. Additionally, the stability of Au III complexes in DMSO-d 6 was confirmed using 1 H NMR spectroscopy over 10 days (Figures 12 to 14). [267] Table 4. Experimental (m exp ) and theoretical (m theor ) masses of the detected species during the stability studies by high resolution mass spectrometry. Co 1m 2m 3m 1p Coordination of metformin and phenformin to an Au III center resulted in drastically different effects on the antiproliferative activity [268] The in vitro anticancer activity of novel Au III compounds was determined in human ovarian cancer cell lines (A2780 and A2780cisR) and human breast adenocarcinoma cell line (MDA-MB- 231) by means of the colorimetric MTT assay with an exposure time of 72 hours. Their EC 50 values in comparison with uncoordinated metformin and phenformin, as well as cisplatin are given in Table 5 and concentration-effect curves are shown in Figures 26, 27 and 28. [269] Whereas metformin was devoid of cytotoxicity and phenformin was only marginally cytotoxic, the cytotoxicity of novel Au III complexes was comparably high in all tested cell lines, in agreement with previously reported structurally similar Au III complexes. In a cisplatin-sensitive A2780 cell line, these complexes were ^3-10 times less cytotoxic than cisplatin; however, in cisplatin-resistant A2780cisR cells, novel complexes demonstrated up to 7-fold increase in cytotoxicity. The activity of Au III precursors 1-3 decreased in the following rank order 1 > 2 > 3, whereas the activity of their metformin analogues followed the opposite trend: 3met >> 2met > 1met. With the exception of complex 1met, coordination of metformin resulted in the increase of the cytotoxicity of Au III -metformin complexes, whereas coordination of phenformin negatively affected the cytotoxicity of 1phen in all tested cell lines. In particular, 3met was found to be more than 6000-fold more active than metformin. [270] The exchange of the counterion did not have a significant effect on the activity of the complexes; however, 1met* was excluded from further studies due to poor solubility in the biological media. Additionally, the compounds’ toxicity in human ventricular cardiomyocytes AC10 in comparison with doxorubicin was assessed, which was severely cardiotoxic (Table 5). The heart toxicity of doxorubicin in AC10 cells was reflected by the IC 50 value 2.3 ± 0.2 μM, whereas cisplatin and 3met were approximately 3–4-fold less toxic. All other Au III complexes did not demonstrate any significant toxicity in heart cells. Similar results were observed upon assessment of the liver toxicity using mouse hepatocytes TAMH (Table 5).
[271] Table 5. Cytotoxicity, TrxR inhibition and cellular accumulation of compounds of interest (values are means ± standard errors of mean obtained from at least three independent experiments). a 50% effective concentrations in A2780 and A2780cisR (ovarian carcinoma), MDA-MB-231 (breast adenocarcinoma), AC10 (human ventricular cardiomyocytes) and TAMH (transforming growth factor-α transgenic mouse hepatocytes) determined by means of the MTT assay with the exposure time of 72 hours; b 50% inhibitory concentrations for rat liver TrxR inhibition determined by means of DTNB reduction assay with the exposure time of 30 min; c cellular accumulation determined by ICP-MS after 24 hour exposure to MDA-MB-231 cells at concentration of 1.4 μM; d Resistance Factor (RF) was determined as IC50 (A2780cisR)/IC50 (A2780); e n.d. – not determined.
Intracellular ligand dynamics of Au III -metformin and –phenformin complexes [272] In the presence of biologically relevant thiols, such as glutathione (GSH), Au(III)-metformin complexes undergo irreversible redox reactions. The mechanism of activation may be described as competition between ligands substitution and redox reactions; however, the redox potential of these reactions is high and cannot be accessed in living cells. Therefore, it is assumed that activation of the complexes occurs via ligand exchange rather than electrochemically. [273] Upon interaction with intracellular glutathinone (GSH), Au(III) complex 3met was shown to release free metformin. The release of metformin ligand was monitored by high-resolution mass spectrometry for 24 hours. It was shown that the peak area corresponding to metformin signal (m/z 130.1078, Figure 33 and Figure 35(A)) increased more than 5-fold after 3 hours, whereas the peak area corresponding to 3met + signal (m/z 506.1358, Figure 34 and Figure 35(B)) decreased more than 27-fold. Intriguingly, the reactivity of Au III -metformin complexes towards GSH was drastically different despite their similar structures.3met demonstrated time-dependent release of metformin characterized by evident optical changes in UV-vis spectrum and appearance of the new peak at 235 nm corresponding to free metformin (Figure 36). In contrast to 3met, complex, 2met was stable both in the absence and presence of GSH, which may explain its significantly lower cytotoxicity in cancer cells (Figures 37 and 38) while 1met demonstrated metformin release only upon heating (Figure 39). It has been previously shown that an Au III complex featuring 2-benzoylpyridine scaffold efficiently arylated GSH via a reductive elimination process, in agreement with enhanced reactivity of 3met. [274] To determine whether the release of metformin occurred as a result of electrochemical reduction of Au III , cyclic voltammetry experiments were performed in DMSO and aqueous solution (Figure 40). While uncoordinated metformin did not show any redox activity, the cyclic voltammograms of 1met, 2met, 3met and 1phen demonstrated a reduction wave in the cathodic region at –0.6 to –1.1 V (vs. NHE), corresponding to an irreversible reduction of Au III to Au I . However, the redox potentials were outside the accessible biological window, indicating that direct reduction of Au III in cancer cells was unlikely. Subsequently, cyclic voltammetry measurements were coupled with UV-vis in a spectroelectrochemical cell, which revealed that cathodic reduction of Au III in 1met and 3met but not 2met, was associated with the appearance of new transitions in the region between 350 and 600 nm (Figures 41 and 42). Taken together, the interaction of Au III complexes with GSH might be considered as a competition between reduction and ligand substitution. However, it is proposed that ligand substitution occurred prior to reduction. In the case of 3met, it is hypothesized that further gold-templated C-S cross coupling also occurs. Au III -metformin and phenformin complexes inhibit TrxR enzyme in a nanomolar concentration range in contrast to metformin [275] Since the mechanism of Au III complexes in cancer cells could involve the inhibition of TrxR enzyme, the TrxR-inhibitory potential of 1-3met, 1phen and metformin was investigated by the colorimetric DNTB (dithiobisnitrobenzoic acid) reduction assay using rat liver TrxR. TrxR reacts with DNTB in presence of NADPH, resulting in the formation of a colored product, which can be detected photometrically. Compounds of interest at six different concentrations were incubated with the isolated rat liver TrxR enzyme in the presence of NADPH for 30 minutes, followed by 2 minutes incubation with the DNTB reagent. Subsequently, the absorbance at 412 nm was measured for 30 minutes and the EC50 values were derived from concentration-effect curves (Table 5 and Figure 43). All tested complexes demonstrated comparable nanomolar inhibitory activity ( ^1-3 nM) against the seleno-enzyme with the highest effect observed for 2met (0.55 ± 0.09 nM). In contrast, uncoordinated metformin did not show any inhibitory potential up to 5 mM; therefore, TrxR-inhibitory potential of Au III -metformin complexes was attributed to the Au III moiety. Inhibition of mitochondrial TrxR may trigger various antimitochondrial effects, reflected by the changes in oxidative stress and membrane depolarization. Improved anticancer activity of the lead complex 3met correlates with its more efficient intracellular accumulation [276] The Au III complexes were tested against the aggressive poorly-differentiated triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell line, MDA-MB-231, as well as other human cancer cell lines, and exhibited high cytotoxicities in all cases (Table 5, Figure 28). In contrast, metformin was devoid of cytotoxicity, while phenformin was only marginally cytotoxic. In keeping with reduced stability, 1phen was the least cytotoxic representative of this series. Additionally, the compounds’ toxicity was assessed in human ventricular cardiomyocytes in comparison with doxorubicin, a topoisomerase II inhibitor used to treat TNBC but which suffers from severe cardiotoxicities, as a control (Table 5). The heart toxicity of doxorubicin in human ventricular cardiomyocytes (AC10) cells was reflected by the IC50 value 2.3 ^ 0.2 ^M, whereas cisplatin and 3met were approximately 3–4-fold less toxic. All other Au III complexes were only marginally toxic or non-toxic at all. Similar results were observed upon assessment of the liver toxicity using mouse hepatocytes (TAMH) (Table 5). It should be noted that 3met, while being more toxic than other structurally similar complexes, demonstrated 4-fold selectivity to liver cells over resistant MDA-MB-231 cancer cells and 18-fold selectivity over cisplatin sensitive A2780 cancer cells. [277] The differences in cytotoxicity of Au III complexes may be related to their intracellular accumulation. Therefore, the intracellular Au content in MDA-MB-231 cells was determined by ICP-MS upon exposure to increasing concentrations of compounds for 24 hours (Table 5 and Figure 44). All complexes demonstrated concentration-dependent cellular accumulation with the highest accumulation for 3met (*** p < 0.001, one-way ANOVA test with Dunnett's post hoc analysis) , in agreement with its highest cytotoxicity. The accumulation of 3met was ^10 times higher than that of 2met, corresponding to its ^10 times higher activity. The cellular accumulation of other complexes was comparable. 3met caused bioenergetic crisis in cancer cells characterized by altered mitochondrial respiration and glycolysis [278] Therapeutic effects of metformin are related to the alterations in cellular mitochondrial activity. As the inner mitochondrial membrane contains the respiratory enzymes necessary for oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), its depolarization leads to defective mitochondrial respiration and energy metabolism. The effects of 3met on mitochondrial respiration of highly resistant MDA-MB-231 cells were therefore investigated (Figures 45 and 47) by measuring oxygen consumption rate (OCR) using Seahorse MitoStress assay. Cancer cells were treated with increasing concentrations of compounds of interest for 24 hours and OCR was measured every few minutes before and after the addition of the respiratory modulators, namely oligomycin, carbonyl cyanide 4-(trifluoromethoxy) phenylhydrazone (FCCP), rotenone and antimycin A.3met demonstrated dose-dependent progressive decrease of all mitochondrial bioenergetic parameters, indicating inhibition of mitochondrial processes and loss of mitochondrial mass, similar to other mitochondria-targeting metal-based complexes. In contrast, non-mitochondrial respiration was not significantly inhibited (Figure 35). When mitochondria were prevented from ATP generation, the cells were prompted to take up more glucose, resulting in lower blood glucose levels. Since the loss of ATP in cancer cells was counterbalanced by an increased glycolytic rate, the glycolytic function of MDA-MB-231 cells after 24 hour drug incubation was analyzed by measuring extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) using Seahorse Glycolysis stress test. ECAR was measured every few minutes before and after addition of glucose, oligomycin and 2- deoxyglycose (2-DG) (Figures 46 and 48). When cancer cells were treated with low concentrations of 3met (0.05 ^M) for 24 hours, the significant increase of all glycolytic parameters was observed. On the contrary, a 24 hour exposure of MDA-MB-231 cells to higher concentrations of 3met at 1.5 ^M resulted in the significantly declined glycolytic reserve. These results indicate the attempts of cancer cells to confer a survival advantage in presence of 3met by greater compensatory increase in aerobic glycolysis. Effects of Au III -metformin complexes on protein kinases involved in metabolic signaling [279] Metabolic actions of metformin in cancer cells can occur both in AMPK-dependent or independent manner. To better understand the signaling events underlying the metabolic action of Au III -metformin complexes, their effects on AMPK-mTOR energy signaling pathway were investigated. AMPK regulates the energetic balance at the whole body level responding to external nutrient and growth input and mTOR is a downstream target of AMPK, as well as a key energy sensor involved in the regulation of ribosome biosynthesis and ATP production. mTOR undergoes phosphorylation when growth conditions are favourable; however, unlike mTOR, the phosphorylation of AMPK occurs during fuel deficiency. The concentration-dependent behavior of 1met and 3met was assessed upon treatment of MDA-MB-231 cells with increasing concentrations (corresponding to 0.5 x, 1 x, 1.5 x and 2 x EC50 values, respectively) of 1met and 3met for 24 hours in comparison with metformin (Figures 49 and 54). It was shown that 1met and 3met caused dose-dependent increase of AMPK phosphorylation and decrease of mTOR phosphorylation, similar to high concentrations of uncoordinated metformin (Figure 52). Additionally, time-dependent behavior of 3met was studied upon incubation of MDA-MB-231 with 3met at concentrations corresponding to its 0.5 x and 2 x EC 50 values for 2, 6 and 24 hours (Figure 50) and time-dependent increase of p-AMPK and decrease of p-mTOR was observed. The Western blot results indicated the activation of AMPK followed by mTOR inhibition, thereby supporting the observed effects of the complexes on the mitochondrial respiration. The inhibition of cancer metabolism induced by 3met might be related to the inhibition of kinases, involved in the energy regulation processes. [280] Subsequently, the effects of 3met on the residual in vitro activity of 30 metabolically- relevant kinases was determined using radioactive 33 P-ATP filter-binding assay (Figure 53). The analysis revealed that 3met was a relatively specific inhibitor, with the most significant inhibition observed upon incubation of 3met with protein kinase B beta (PKB ^, 100%), extracellular signal- regulated kinase 1 (ERK1, 90%), and insulin receptor (IR, 70%) kinases, which play key roles in the metabolic function of cancer cells. Importantly, metformin was also reported to be involved in PKB, ERK and IR signaling. Au III -metformin complexes activated unfolded protein response (UPR) in response to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress [281] The major role in restoring normal cellular function under stressful conditions is mediated by unfolded protein response (UPR) and autophagy, which are activated in response to the accumulation of unfolded or misfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). To gain further insights into the mechanism of action of Au III -metformin complexes, the expression of ER stress- related markers, namely, binding immunoglobulin protein (BiP) and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), as well as phosphorylation of eIF2α (p-eIF2α), were monitored by means of Western Blotting. The dose-dependent behaviour of 1met and 3met was assessed upon treatment of MDA-MB-231 cells with increasing concentrations (corresponding to 0.5 ^, 1 ^, 1.5 ^ and 2 ^ EC 50 values, respectively) of 1met and 3met for 24 hours. It was demonstrated that Au III complexes caused dose-dependent increase of BiP and CHOP expression, while simultaneously decreasing the expression of p-eIF2α, indicating cellular response to drug-induced ER stress (Figure 49). When MDA-MB-231 cells were treated with 3met (at concentrations corresponding to 0.5 and 2EC 50 values) for 2, 6 and 24 hours, time-dependent increase of CHOP was observed (Figure 50). To investigate the role of eIF2α and protein synthesis in the mode of action of 3met, cancer cells were co-treated with 3met and sub-toxic concentrations of salubrinal (selective inhibitor of eIF2α dephosphorylation, 10 μM) or cycloheximide (CHX, protein synthesis inhibitor, 12.5 μM) for 24 hours (Figure 56). Addition of salubrinal caused a ^2-fold decrease of 3met activity, whereas CHX abrogated 3met-induced cell dea ≈h b ≈ ^3.5 times. 3met -induced cell death is associated with activation of JNK [282] Prolonged ER stress can result in the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and release of pro-apoptotic proteins, thereby facilitating JNK-mediated apoptosis. A dose- dependent study revealed that exposure of MDA-MB-231 cells to 1met and 3met resulted in JNK phosphorylation already at 0.5 EC 50 drug concentrations and the event became apparent after 24 hours of exposure (Figures 49 and 50). To assess the role and specificity of JNK in 3met- mediated cell death, MDA-MB-231 cells were co-treated with a combination of 3met and a panel of inhibitors, including those of JNK kinase (SP600125, 20 ^M), p38 MAPK kinase (SB203580, 20 ^M) and MEK1/2 kinase (U0126, 0 ^ μMM). The activity of 3met was abrogated in the presence of SP600125 (by ≈1.7 fold), but not in the presence of SB203580 and U0126, indicating the role of JNK in the 3met-mediated cell death (Figure 44). 3met activated pro-survival autophagy signaling and impaired autophagic flux [283] Au I and Au III complexes commonly induce UPR and ER stress; however, autophagy- inducing Au complexes are relatively rare. Because ER stress may result in the activation of pro- survival or pro-death autophagy signaling, it was sought to determine whether 3met-induced cell death was associated with the activation of the autophagy program. Autophagy ensures the self- removal of cell’s own faulty material. One of the hallmarks of autophagy was the conversion of cytosolic LC3-I to autophagosome-bound LC3-II which was monitored by Western Blotting. Figures 39 and 40 showed that treatment of MDA-MB-231 cells with 1met and 3met significantly enhanced the expression of LC3-II in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, indicating the activation of the autophagy program. When the cytotoxicity of 3met was tested in presence of autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA), it increased more than 2 times, indicating the pro- survival role of autophagy processes (Figure 51). [284] In order to assess the role of AMPK-mTOR signalling in the regulation of autophagy, the effects of Au III complexes on Ulk1 protein phosphorylation was determined. Under starvation conditions and inhibition of mTOR, Ulk1 is rapidly dephosphorylated at Ser757 site. As can be seen in Figures 49 and 50, whereas at low concentrations (0.5 and 1EC 50 ) of 1met and 3met enhanced phosphorylation of Ulk1 was observed, higher concentrations (2EC 50 ) of the drugs and long incubation time (24 hours) led to the marked dephosphorylation of Ulk1 at Ser757 site, coinciding with the activation of AMPK. [285] During the process of autophagy, cellular contents are engulfed by double-membrane vesicles called autophagosomes which undergo fusion with lysosomes to become autolysosomes. Subsequently, lysosomal enzymes in the autolysosomes effectively degrade the cargo inside autophagosomes. The increase of LC3-II/LC3-I ratio as a result of 1met and 3met treatment might be either an outcome of the elevated autophagic activity or impaired autophagic flux characterized by the inhibition of protein degradation and the accumulation of autophagosomes. These possibilities can be resolved by assessment of LC3-II levels in presence of chloroquine (CQ), which blocks the fusion of the autophagosome with the lysosome, thereby preventing degradation of LC3-II in autolysosomes. CQ was added 1 hour before the cell harvest to inhibit lysosomal activity, resulting in the accumulation of LC3-II protein. When MDA-MB-231 cells were treated with the combination of 3met with CQ, further increase of LC3-II levels was observed. Additionally, the expression of ubiquitine-associated protein p62, which directly binds to LC3 and is commonly used to monitor autophagic flux, was analyzed. Upon treatment with 3met, the increase of p62 levels was observed in accordance with accumulation of autophagosomes and no further increase was observed in combination with CQ (Figure 55); however, Ulk1 dephosphorylation was significantly enhanced when cells were treated together with CQ, further supporting autophagy flux impairment. In order to distinguish between pro- survival or pro-death autophagy signalling, MDA-MB-231 cells were co-treated with 3met and autophagy inhibitor, 3-methyladenine (3-MA, 2 mM) for 24 hours. The activity of 3met in presence of 3-MA increased more than 2 times, indicating pro-survival role of autophagy processes. The results demonstrated that 3met inhibited protein degradation and the accumulation of autophagosomes, leading to the impairment of pro-survival autophagic flux, which was distinctly different mechanistically from other structurally similar cyclometallated Au III -C,N complexes (Figure 56). [286] It was investigated whether drug-induced mitochondrial dysfunction activated the process of mitophagy, which aims to restore cellular mitochondrial function by clearing defective mitochondria. Selective degradation of mitochondria occurs by increasing mitochondrial fission. When MDA-MB-231 cells were treated with 3met in combination with mitochondrial fission inhibitor MDIVI-1, its cytotoxicity significantly decreased, clearly indicating the role of mitophagy in the mechanism of 3met (Figure 51). Notably, uncoordinated metformin was also shown to regulate mitophagy in vitro and in patients. Au III -metformin and phenformin complexes induced apoptotic cell death [287] To determine if anticancer effects of novel Au III complexes were due to apoptosis, an Annexin V/PI assay was performed in MDA-MB-231 cells. The early stages of apoptosis are characterized by the translocation of phosphatidyl serine (PS) from the inner leaflet of plasma membrane to the outer cell surface. The event of PS translocation can be captured by fluorochrome-labelled Annexin V, which reacts with the membrane PS residues. Addition of propidium iodide (PI) allows discrimination of the cells with damaged cellular membrane integrity. MDA-MB-231 cells were treated with the compounds of interest at equipotent concentrations, corresponding to their IC50 values (Figure 57). Complexes 1-3met caused marked increase in apoptotic cell population and variation of the cyclometalated fragment did not affect the ability of the complexes to induce apoptosis (p > 0.05) when treated at equipotent concentrations. Similarly, no changes in apoptotic population were observed when metformin was replaced by phenformin in complex 1phen. However, when cells were treated with complex 1, the percentage of apoptotic population was significantly higher (***p < 0.001) than for all other complexes. Next, the compounds of interest were compared to cisplatin and metformin. Although both compounds induced apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells, the percentage of apoptotic cells was markedly lower than for all tested Au III complexes. Subsequently, the effects of 1met and 3met on apoptotic markers, namely cleaved poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase-1 (PARP) and cleaved caspase-3 were investigated and compared with the cytotoxicity of 3met in presence or absence of poly-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK (Figures 47 and 49). PARP cleavage is commonly accepted as an indicator of apoptotic cell death and caspase-3 is one of the key mediators of mitochondrial apoptosis. As can be seen in Figures 49 and 50, the cytotoxicity of 3met significantly decreased when cells were co-treated with poly-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK while compounds of interest demonstrated dose- and time-dependent PARP cleavage and increase expression of cleaved caspase 3, suggesting that Au III -metformin complexes exerted mitochondrial caspase 3-dependent apoptosis in vitro. Discussion on in vitro activity [288] Novel Au III -metformin complexes exhibited excellent cytotoxicities in a micromolar to nanomolar concentration range in all tested cell lines, including highly resistant triple negative breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells (Table 2 and Figures 26 and 27). In particular, the lead complex 3met displayed nanomolar activities and was ^ 4-, 21- and 28-fold more active than cisplatin in A2780, A2780cis and MDA-MB-231 cells, respectively. The compound was also markedly more active than its cyclometalated precursor 3 and demonstrated impressive 6500-fold increase in cytotoxicity compared to uncoordinated metformin (Figure 27). The improved anticancer activity of 3met was linked to its significantly higher intracellular uptake, in agreement with the initial design (Figure 44). As opposed to metformin, coordination of phenformin to an Au III center resulted in a reduction of anticancer activity of 1phen, which was explained by the reduced stability of Au III -phenformin complexes. [289] Although various Au complexes and nanoparticles showed promising anticancer potential, their clinical development has been hampered by their high toxicity. In particular, Au biodistribution in mice organs was characterized by high Au concentration in liver in agreement with its excretory function and unusually high Au levels in heart. It was hypothesized that coordination of metformin to an Au III center would result in a reduced toxicity, since metabolic effects of metformin decrease radiation-induced cardiac toxicity risk and even reduce the incidence of heart failure in patients. Metformin also improves liver function in patients with liver diseases. As expected, Au III -metformin and phenformin complexes demonstrated only marginal toxicity to liver and heart or were not toxic at all. In particular, 3met demonstrated 4- and 10-fold selectivity to liver and heart cells, respectively, over resistant MDA-MB-231 cancer cells and 18- and 49-fold selectivity over sensitive A2780 cancer cells (Table 2). [290] Metformin can directly affect cancer cell metabolism both in vitro and in vivo. However, its anticancer metabolic effects were observed at a high dose of 500 mg/kg/d, which is at least a 25- times higher dose than the conventional antidiabetic dose in humans and might not be relevant in a clinical setting. In this work, the lead Au III -metformin complex 3met significantly inhibited mitochondrial respiration of triple-negative breast cancer cells at concentrations as low as 1.5 ^M (Figures 45 and 47). The increase in AMPK activation caused by 3met occurred at ^ 14000-fold lower concentration of 3met than metformin (Figures 49 and 54). The enhanced mitochondria- targeting potential might be related to the synergistic action of metformin and Au III species, which were repeatedly reported to target mitochondrial cell death pathways. Au complexes efficiently inhibit TrxR enzyme, leading to the disruption of mitochondrial functions. It was demonstrated that novel Au III -metformin and phenformin complexes inhibited TrxR at nanomolar concentration range, whereas metformin did not show any inhibitory potential up to 5 mM (Figure 43). [291] Intriguingly, the effects of 3met on the glycolytic function of MDA-MB-231 cells were concentration-dependent. Cancer cells displayed elevated aerobic glycolysis upon exposure to low concentrations of 3met (0.05 ^M) while at higher concentrations (1.5 ^M), their glycolytic functions declined (Figures 46 and 48). These results indicated the attempts of cancer cells to confer a survival advantage in presence of 3met by greater compensatory increase in aerobic glycolysis. However, prolonged exposure to high concentrations of 3met resulted in a severe energetic crisis leading to the cell death. [292] Besides metabolic reprogramming, cancer cells develop various adaptive responses which provided them a survival advantage under stressful conditions. These responses are closely linked to each other and their crosstalk affect the decision of cancer cells whether to live or die. The major role in restoring cellular homeostasis is played by two pro-survival programs, namely autophagy and UPR, which mediate the switch between cellular outcomes by fine-tuning cancer cell signals. UPR is activated in response to the accumulation of unfolded or misfolded proteins in the ER, whereas autophagy is characterized by lysosomal degradation of the cells’ own material to maintain cellular energy balance.1met and 3met activated autophagic signaling characterized by increased p62 and autophagosome-bound LC3-II expression, as well as marked dephosphorylation of Ulk1 at Ser757 site (Figure 49). [293] 3met was able to induce pro-survival UPR activation in MDA-MB-231 cells characterized by dose- and time-dependent activation of the key UPR folding chaperone, binding immunoglobulin protein (BiP) (Figure 49 (right side) and 52). However, decreased phosphorylation of p-eIF2α, increased phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), as well as increase of C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) expression suggested that the damage caused by the treatment was too severe and cells were directed into cell death processes (Fig. 3D). Subsequently, the cytotoxicity of 3met in presence or absence of various specific UPR inhibitors was compared, which confirmed the specific role of eIF2α and JNK pathways, as well as global protein synthesis in the anticancer activity of 3met (Figure 56). [294] It was demonstrated that autophagic signaling played a cytoprotective role by co- incubating breast cancer cells with 3met and autophagy inhibitor, 3-methyladenine (3-MA), which resulted in the significant potentiation of the effects of 3met. Additionally, Au III -metformin complexes caused dose-dependent increase of BiP expression, indicating pro-survival UPR activation in the attempts of cancer cells to counteract cellular damage. However, decreased expression of p-eIF2α, as well as increase of CHOP expression suggested that the damage caused by the treatment was too severe and cells were directed into apoptosis, reflected by the significant increase in apoptotic cell population, as well as cleaved caspase 3 and cleaved PARP expression (Figures 49 and 50). It should be noted that metformin also induced UPR and autophagy cancer signaling at but at clinically-irrelevant concentrations. Inhibition of aggressive breast tumor growth in vivo [295] 3met, which demonstrated the highest activity in vitro, was selected as a lead compound for in vivo studies. To determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), mice were given daily intraperitoneal injections of 3met at 5, 10, 15 and 20 mg/kg for 4 days and their body weights were monitored (Figure 59). The tolerability of the chosen dose level was judged based on the weight loss and clinical score. All groups of mice were bright, alert and responsive; however, transient weight loss was observed at 20 mg/kg. Figure 62 also shows that the body weights of the drug treated mice did not change in comparison with the untreated group, indicating that 3met at the chosen dose did not cause the loss of weight in treated mice. The dose-limiting toxicity included kidney and liver toxicity reflected by histopathological changes (Figure 63). Therefore, the MTD of 3met for intraperitoneal route was determined as 15 mg/kg. [296] The in vivo activity of 3met was subsequently tested in female 6-week old athymic nude mice using orthotopic mammary fat pad model. Luciferase-transfected MDA-MB-231 cells were injected into 2 fat pads near pectoral nipples and 2 fat pads near inguinal nipples and tumor growth was controlled by bioluminescent imaging. Mice (7 per group) were injected with 15 mg/kg of 3met or respective vehicle (DMSO in physiological saline) intraperitoneally 3 times a week on weeks 3, 4 and 5 and sacrificed on week 6. Body weight changes reflecting upon drug toxicity are shown in Figure 59. Importantly, 3met demonstrated marked decrease of tumor burden in comparison with a vehicle-treated group and significantly slowed down the growth of quickly growing breast tumors, with no growth observed after week 3 (Figure 60). On the contrary, the anticancer effects of uncoordinated metformin in an MDA-MB-231 mammary fat model were negligible even at a very high dose (250 mg/kg). [297] Additionally, the Au biodistribution across various organs in tumor-bearing mice was assessed. Figure 61 demonstrates that 3met selectively accumulated in tumors. The Au content in tumors was more than 3-5 times higher than in the heart, lung, spleen and kidneys and more than 3-20 times higher than in the brain, liver and bone. This biodistribution pattern is very uncommon for small molecules and is a desirable property for novel anticancer drug candidates. Subsequently, histological changes in tumor tissues were assessed by hematoxylin & eosin (H&E) staining and the effects of 3met on tumor area and necrosis were quantified using an automated QuPath algorithm (Table 6, Figures 64 to 68). Tumors were represented by invasive non-specified breast carcinoma with high-grade histology G3 (3 + 3 + 3, according to the modified Bloom Richardson Grading scores), characteristic of the basal or TNBC molecular subtypes (Figure 65). Tumors in vehicle-treated group demonstrated some areas of necrosis (10.33 ± 1.4%) caused by high proliferative activity of aggressive breast cancer cells, while drug-treated group was characterized by significant areas of necrosis (32.25 ± 4.27%), indicating anticancer effects of 3met. 3met-treated tumors demonstrated marked inflammatory cells infiltration, indicating enhanced immune response to the primary tumor (Figure 66). This is an important finding since basal subtypes of breast cancers that are regulated by tumor-infiltrating immune cells were linked with improved prognosis and drug sensitivity.
Discussion on in vivo activity [299] Despite significant advancements in the treatment of breast cancer, triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) represent an unmet clinical need due to their aggressive nature and propensity to metastasize. Unlike other subtypes of breast cancer, TNBCs do not express estrogen, progesterone and Herceptin 2 receptors and cannot be treated with hormone therapies or Her2- targeting drugs, such as Trastuzumab. Therefore, the only systemic treatment that can be used for TNBCs is chemotherapy. It is known that TNBCs readily respond to currently used chemotherapeutic options, e.g. ACT regimen (anthracycline, cyclophosphamide and taxane). However, despite initial response, they quickly relapse and metastasize, which poses a serious challenge for the selection of second-line treatment options. In recent years, several classes of metal-based compounds have been developed as anticancer therapeutic agents endowed with multimodal activity against TNBCs in vitro and in vivo. [300] The phenotypic aggressiveness of TNBCs is related to their dependency on glucose and lipids, which cancer cells use for production of energy. It was previously shown that antidiabetic drug metformin targeted glucose metabolism in TNBCs, which made this drug particularly toxic to this group of breast cancers. However, the use of metformin for the treatment of TNBCs is hindered by its inability to effectively penetrate through cellular membranes. The approach detailed in this study was based on the conjugation of metformin and phenformin with Au III pharmacophores, which are known to target multiple biomolecules, including zinc-finger domains, TrxR enzyme and various mitochondrial proteins, resulting in synergistic mitochondrial damage. It was hypothesized that cyclometalated Au III scaffolds can act as multimodal prodrugs achieving targeted release of metformin and phenformin. To test this intriguing approach, a series of cyclometalated Au III complexes of metformin and phenformin were investigated for their potential for treatment of TNBCs. The release of metformin was dictated by the cyclometalated fragment with the most cytotoxic complex 3met being the most efficient amongst the panel of compounds tested.3met also displayed nanomolar cytotoxic activities and was approximately 28-fold more active than cisplatin in MDA-MB-231 cells (TNBC/basal breast cancer cell line) and more than 6000-fold cytotoxic than free metformin. 3met was also markedly more active than its cyclometalated precursor 3. [301] It was demonstrated that Au III pharmacophores and metformin displayed synergistic action and completely shut down energy production in TNBC cells. A number of prodrugs utilize the concept of “Warburg effect” and aim to switch cancer cell metabolism from glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation. In contrast, 3met fully inhibited mitochondrial respiration, thereby forcing cancer cells to increase glucose production via glycolysis (Figures 36 and 37). However, as discussed above, prolonged exposure to high concentrations of 3met resulted in a severe energetic crisis leading to the failure of breast cancer cells to protect themselves by metabolic reprogramming. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that prolonged exposure to high concentrations of 3met resulted in the inhibition of UPR and autophagy. Specifically, 3met interfered with the process of mitophagy, aimed to clear the defective mitochondria following drug-induced mitochondrial damage (Figure 53). [302] Encouraged by the anticancer potential of 3met, the efficacy of this drug candidate in an orthotopic mammary fat pad model in athymic nude mice was tested, where MDA-MB-231 cells were implanted into 4 nipples, simultaneously forming 4 aggressive breast tumors (Figures 60, 61 and 65 to 68). In this model, implanted cancer cells match the tumor histotype of the organ, thereby providing a more realistic disease-relevant environment in contrast to commonly used xenograft models.3met significantly reduced tumor burden in comparison to vehicle-treated mice and no tumor growth was observed after week 3. Based on these findings, 3met appears to be an effective metformin prodrug, which was able to slow the growth of invasive TNBC with subsequent activation of immune system by targeting the dependency of this cancer subtype on energy production. [303] In conclusion, a new series of Au III complexes was designed, featuring both energy- disrupting metformin or phenformin and TrxR-inhibiting Au III species. The proposed mechanism of action of 3met is illustrated in Figure 58. In vitro evidence demonstrated that metabolic changes caused by 3met initiated the attempts of cancer cells to protect themselves by metabolic reprogramming, UPR and mitophagy, which were successfully prevented by shutdown of mitochondrial respiration and impairment of autophagic flux, leading to the inhibition of protein degradation and apoptotic cell death. Furthermore, high degree of selectivity of novel complexes to cancer cells over healthy heart and liver cells has been observed, which is beneficial for their further preclinical development. In addition, lead drug candidate 3met halted the growth of aggressive breast tumors in a mammary fat pad breast cancer model and activated the immune response, indicating the potential benefits of this drug candidate for TNBC patients with high risk of metastasis and relapse. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY [304] The compounds as defined above may be useful in as a medicament, specifically in the treatment of cancer or in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of cancer. The compound as defined above may be effective in treating various cancers including medulloblastoma, ewing sarcoma, osteosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, fibrosarcoma connective, chondrosarcoma, neuroblastoma, esophageal cancer, head and neck cancer, gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer, glioma, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, prostate cancer, melanoma, mesothelioma, hepatocellular carcinoma, triple-negative breast cancer, colon cancer and metastatic cancer. [305] It will be apparent that various other modifications and adaptations of the invention will be apparent to the person skilled in the art after reading the foregoing disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended that all such modifications and adaptations come within the scope of the appended claims.
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