Silvano Spinelli

A novel charged trinuclear platinum complex effective against cisplatin-resistant tumours: hypersensitivity of p53-mutant human tumour xenografts.

SummaryMultinuclear platinum compounds were rationally designed to bind to DNA in a different manner from that of cisplatin and its mononuclear analogues. A triplatinum compound of the series (BBR 3464) was selected for preclinical development, since, in spite of its charged nature, it was very potent as cytotoxic agent and effective against cisplatin-resistant tumour cells. Anti-tumour efficacy studies were performed in a panel of human tumour xenografts refractory or poorly responsive to cisplatin. The novel platinum compound exhibited efficacy in all tested tumours and an impressive efficacy (including complete tumour regressions) was displayed in two lung carcinoma models, CaLu-3 and POCS. Surprisingly, BBR 3464 showed a superior activity against p53-mutant tumours as compared to those carrying the wild-type gene. The involvement of p53 in tumour response was investigated in an osteosarcoma cell line, SAOS, which is null for p53 and is highly sensitive to BBR 3464, and in the same cells following introduction of the wild-type p53 gene. Thus the pattern of cellular response was investigated in a panel of human tumour cells with a different p53 gene status. The results showed that the transfer of functional p53 resulted in a marked (tenfold) reduction of cellular chemosensitivity to the multinuclear platinum complex but in a moderate sensitization to cisplatin. In addition, in contrast to cisplatin, the triplatinum complex was very effective as an inducer of apoptosis in a lung carcinoma cell line carrying mutant p53. The peculiar pattern of anti-tumour activity of the triplatinum complex and its ability to induce p53-independent cell death may have relevant pharmacological implications, since p53, a critical protein involved in DNA repair and induction of apoptosis by conventional DNA-damaging agents, is defective in several human tumours. We suggest that the peculiar DNA binding properties of the triplatinum complex may contribute to the striking profile of anti-tumour efficacy. Taken together, the available information supports that anti-tumour activity of the novel compound is mediated by a mechanism different from that of conventional platinum complexes, and compounds of this series could represent a new class of promising anti-tumour agents.

The cellular basis of the efficacy of the trinuclear platinum complex BBR 3464 against cisplatin-resistant cells

Multinuclear platinum compounds have been designed to circumvent the cellular resistance to conventional mononuclear platinum-based drugs. In this study we performed a comparative study of cisplatin and of the triplatinum complex BBR 3464 in a human osteosarcoma cell system (U2-OS) including an in vitro selected cisplatin-resistant subline (U2-OS/Pt). BBR 3464 was extremely potent in comparison with cisplatin in U2-OS cells and completely overcame resistance of U2-OS/Pt cells. In both cell lines, BBR 3464 accumulation and DNA-bound platinum were higher than those observed for cisplatin. On the contrary, a low frequency of interstrand cross-links after exposure to BBR 3464 was found. Differently from the increase of DNA lesions induced by cisplatin, kinetics studies indicated a low persistence of interstrand cross-link formation for BBR 3464. Western blot analysis of DNA mismatch repair proteins revealed a marked decrease of expression of PMS2 in U2-OS/Pt cells, which also exhibited microsatellite instability. Studies on DNA mismatch repair deficient and proficient colon carcinoma cells were consistent with a lack of influence of the DNA mismatch repair status on BBR 3464 cytotoxicity. In conclusion, the cytotoxic potency and the ability of the triplatinum complex to overcome cisplatin resistance appear to be related to a different mechanism of DNA interaction (formation of different types of drug-induced DNA lesions) as compared to conventional mononuclear complexes.

Comments on Different Synthetic Methods for the Preparation of Diammine and bis(Amine) Organodicarboxylatoplatinum(II) Complexes

Abstract Various synthetic routes to [PtA2(dic)] (1, A = NH3, amine, or 1/2 diamine; dic, chelated organodicarboxylate) are reviewed and discussed in the light of the literature and our experience. Emphasis is given to yields and purity of the intermediates and the products. A simple purification procedure is described. The mechanism of the reaction between bis(amine)dihydroxoplatinum(II) complexes and dicarboxylic acids has been investigated by 195Pt N.M.R. Representative preparations of some selected compounds 1, including some new highly water soluble derivatives, are described in the Experimental section.

Synthesis of 1,4-Dihydropyridines by Regioselective Additions of Benzylic Zinc Bromides to Pyridinium Salts and Their Aromatizations to 4-Benzylpyridines

Abstract Benzylic zinc reagents add with high regioselectivity to 1-(phenoxycarbonyl) salts of methyl nicotinate to yield methyl-1-(phenoxylcarbonyl)-4-benzyl-1,4-dihydronicotinates. The dihydronicotinates on heating with sulfur in decalin afford methyl 4-benzylnicotinates.