The cellular distribution and oxidation state of platinum(II) and platinum(IV) antitumour complexes in cancer cells

The cellular distribution of platinum in A2780 ovarian cancer cells treated with cisplatin and platinum(IV) complexes with a range of reduction potentials has been examined using elemental analysis (synchrotron radiation-induced X-ray emission). The cellular distribution of platinum(IV) drugs after 24 h is similar to that of cisplatin, consistent with the majority of administered platinum(IV) drugs being reduced. Micro-X-ray absorption near-edge spectra of cells treated with cisplatin and platinum(IV) complexes confirmed the reduction of platinum(IV) to platinum(II). In cells treated, the most difficult to reduce complex, cis,trans,cis-[PtCl2(OH)(2)(NH3)(2)], platinum(IV) was detected in the cells along with platinum(II). The observations are in accordance with the relative ease of reduction of the platinum(IV) complexes used and support the requirement of reduction for activation of platinum(IV) complexes.