Study of the anticancer potential of Cd complexes of selenazoyl-hydrazones and their sulfur isosters

The biological activity of Cd compounds has been investigated scarce since Cd has been recognized as a human carcinogen. However, the toxicity of cadmium is comparable to the toxicity of noble metals such as Pt and Pd. The paradigm of metal toxicity has been challenged suggesting that metal toxicity is not a constant property, yet it depends on many factors like the presence of appropriate ligands. Studies on anticancer activity of cadmium complexes showed that the complexation of various ligands resulted in complexes that showed better activities than approved drugs. In the present study, cadmium complexes with biologically potent thiazolyl/selenazoyl-hydrazone ligands have been prepared, and tested for their activity against different types of tumor cell models. The complexation of ligands with Cd(II) resulted in a synergistic effect. The antiproliferative activity study revealed that all complexes are more active compared to 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin. The mechanism of tumor cell growth inhibition reveal that selenium-based compounds induce cell death in T-47D (gland carci-noma) cells through apoptosis via caspase-3/7 activation. Additionally, their pro-apoptotic effect was stronger compared to etoposide and cisplatin. Nuclease activity, detected by gel electrophoresis, may be the possible mechanism of anticancer action of investigated complexes.

Automated summary

The limited research on the biological activity of Cd compounds is due to its recognition as a human carcinogen. However, its toxicity is comparable to noble metals. Metal toxicity is not a constant property and depends on factors like ligand presence. Cd complexes with different ligands have shown better anticancer activity than approved drugs. In this study, Cd complexes with biologically potent ligands were prepared and tested against different tumor cell models. Complexation of ligands with Cd resulted in a synergistic effect. The complexes were more active than existing drugs, inducing tumor cell death through apoptosis. Nuclease activity may be the possible mechanism of the anticancer action of these complexes.