Boosting Cancer Treatment

What is it about?

Cancer cells can be really tough and resistant to chemotherapy, which makes it hard to treat them successfully. This challenge has led to more research into developing new substances or new ways of using multiple drugs to fight cancer. In our study, we looked at some special compounds called [Cu(HPClNOL)Cl]Cl (1), [Fe(HPClNOL)Cl2]NO3 (2), and [Mn(HPClNOL)Cl2] (3) to see if they could help treat cancer. We tested them on human cell lines (MCF-7 and A549) and a mouse melanoma cell line (B16-F10). We checked how toxic these compounds were to the cells, their impact on things like oxidative stress and cell damage, and how they affected the cells' internal machinery. We found that only complex 1 was toxic to cancer cells. When we treated the cells with complex 1, it caused the cells to produce harmful molecules (ROS), damaged their internal power source (mitochondria), and led to cell death (apoptosis) through a specific pathway. When we combined complex 1 with cisplatin (a common cancer drug), it worked really well against some of the cancer cells. We also tested these compounds on mice with tumors and found they could reduce tumor growth.

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Why is it important?

This study gives us new insights into how complex 1 works, both on its own and when combined with existing drugs. It suggests that complex 1, either alone or with other drugs, could be a promising option for cancer treatment.