A new platinum-complex showing easy preparation, promising anti-tumor activity, and better efficacy and distribution properties than oxaliplatin

Current clinically used chemotherapeutic platinum drugs can trigger severe toxic effects. To develop a model system for the evaluation of the therapeutic efficacy and the toxic effects of new platinum agents, we have synthesized a new compound N-[(2S,3R,4R,5R)-2,3,4,5,6-pentahydroxylhex-1-yl]-L-hydroxyproline dichloroplatinum(ii) (PHDP), compared its in vitro anti-proliferation activity, in vivo anti-tumor activity and safety to those of oxaliplatin, and correlated all these biological actions with the platinum occurring in the spleen, kidney, heart, brain, blood, tumor tissue, urine and faeces of the treated mice. We explored the atomic absorption based determinations of the platinum which occurred in the spleen, kidney, heart, brain, blood, tumor tissue, urine and faeces and constitute a model system that can be generally used in the investigation of the novel platinum agents.     

In vitro cytotoxicity study on platinum (II) complexes with epoxysuccinates as leaving groups

A series of novel cisplatin-type platinum complexes were designed, characteristic of epoxysuccinates as leaving groups. The pertinent compounds were prepared and characterized by IR, (1)H NMR, and ESI-MS spectra with elementary analyses. The in vitro cytotoxic activities of compounds toward SPC-A1 human lung adenocarcinoma cell line and BGC823 human stomach adenocarcinoma cell line were determined. Biological tests have confirmed that complexes containing 4R,5R-DMID [abbreviation of (4R,5R)-4,5-bis (aminomethyl)-2-isopropyl-1,3-dioxolane] as carrier ligands have greater cytotoxicity toward tumor cells than the corresponding compounds with other carrier ligands. Most platinum complexes with trans-epoxysuccinates usually have higher cytotoxicity than those with cis-epoxysuccinates. Complex 4a shows the most effective among those tested platinum complexes in both cell lines, and its cytotoxicity approached that of cisplatin.     

Aromatase inhibition by R 83 842, the dextro isomer of R 76 713, in JEG-3 choriocarcinoma grown in ovariectomized nude mice

The effects of repeated (5 days) dosing with the non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor R 83 842 (the dextro isomer of R 76 713) on tumor aromatase and uterus weight in ovariectomized nude mice bearing JEG-3 tumors were examined. In animals bearing an androstenedione implant the presence of a JEG-3 tumor significantly increased uterus weight, proving that tumor aromatase indeed converted androgens to estrogens. Oral administration of R 76 713 (10 mg/kg) for 5 days reduced the increase in uterus weight by 84% in tumor bearing mice revealing true in vivo aromatase inhibition by R 76 713.

Experiments performed in the absence of exogenously added androgens gave similar results. Uterus weights in tumor bearing mice were significantly higher than in control mice. Oral administration of R 83 842 (5 mg/kg) for 5 days reduced uterus weight in the tumor bearing animals. Ex vivo aromatase measurements performed in JEG-3 tumors from these animals showed an aromatase inhibition of 93.9% in treated mice as compared to untreated mice. Five days oral treatment with R 83 842 dose-dependently lowered both aromatase activity and uterus weight. Doses of 5 and 0.5 mg/kg inhibited tumor aromatase by 94.1 and 74.7%, respectively, and reduced uterus weight. After a dose of 0.05 mg/kg aromatase activity and uterus weight were similar to those in the control group.     

Antitumor dinuclear platinum(II) complexes derived from a novel chiral ligand

A new chiral ligand, 2-(((1R,2R)-2-aminocyclohexyl)amino)acetic acid (HL), was designed and synthesized to prepare a series of novel dinuclear platinum(II) complexes with dicarboxylates or sulfate as bridges. The evaluation of these metal complexes in vitro cytotoxicity against human HCT-116, MCF-7 and HepG-2 cell lines were made. All compounds showed antitumor activity to HCT-116 and MCF-7. Particularly, compounds M3 and M5 not only exhibited better activity than carboplatin against MCF-7 and HepG-2, but also showed very close activity to oxaliplatin against HCT-116.     

Role of the DNA Base Excision Repair Protein,APE1 in Cisplatin,Oxaliplatin, or Carboplatin Induced Sensory Neuropathy

Although chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a dose-limiting side effect of platinum drugs, the mechanisms of this toxicity remain unknown. Previous work in our laboratory suggests that cisplatin-induced CIPN is secondary to DNA damage which is susceptible to base excision repair (BER). To further examine this hypothesis, we studied the effects of cisplatin, oxaliplatin, and carboplatin on cell survival, DNA damage, ROS production, and functional endpoints in rat sensory neurons in culture in the absence or presence of reduced expression of the BER protein AP endonuclease/redox factor-1 (APE1). Using an in situ model of peptidergic sensory neuron function, we examined the effects of the platinum drugs on hind limb capsaicin-evoked vasodilatation. Exposing sensory neurons in culture to the three platinum drugs caused a concentration-dependent increase in apoptosis and cell death, although the concentrations of carboplatin were 10 fold higher than cisplatin. As previously observed with cisplatin, oxaliplatin and carboplatin also increased DNA damage as indicated by an increase in phospho-H2AX and reduced the capsaicin-evoked release of CGRP from neuronal cultures. Both cisplatin and oxaliplatin increased the production of ROS as well as 8-oxoguanine DNA adduct levels, whereas carboplatin did not. Reducing levels of APE1 in neuronal cultures augmented the cisplatin and oxaliplatin induced toxicity, but did not alter the effects of carboplatin. Using an in vivo model, systemic injection of cisplatin (3 mg/kg), oxaliplatin (3 mg/kg), or carboplatin (30 mg/kg) once a week for three weeks caused a decrease in capsaicin-evoked vasodilatation, which was delayed in onset. The effects of cisplatin on capsaicin-evoked vasodilatation were attenuated by chronic administration of E3330, a redox inhibitor of APE1 that serendipitously enhances APE1 DNA repair activity in sensory neurons. These outcomes support the importance of the BER pathway, and particularly APE1, in sensory neuropathy caused by cisplatin and oxaliplatin, but not carboplatin and suggest that augmenting DNA repair could be a therapeutic target for CIPN.     

Enhancing lipophilicity as a strategy to overcome resistance against platinum complexes?

Decreased influx represents one of the major resistance mechanisms of platinum complexes. In order to address the question if this mechanism of resistance can be overcome by enhancing the lipophilicity of platinum complexes, we investigated the influence of lipophilicity on cellular accumulation and cytotoxicity in a panel of oxaliplatin analogues with different carrier ligands. Cellular accumulation, DNA platination and cytotoxicity were measured in a cisplatin-sensitive and -resistant ovarian carcinoma (A2780/A2780cis) and in an oxaliplatin-sensitive and -resistant ileocecal colorectal adenocarcinoma (HCT-8/HCT-8ox) cell line pair. Platinum concentrations were determined by flameless atomic absorption spectrometry or adsorptive stripping voltammetry. Passive diffusion represented the main influx mechanism of oxaliplatin analogues during the first minutes of incubation as indicated by a correlation between lipophilicity and early influx rate. Afterwards, the predominant influx mechanism was lipophilicity-independent. More lipophilic complexes showed a reduced cytotoxic activity, although the early influx rate was increased. The resistance profiles of the two cell line pairs were found to be different: HCT-8ox cells were less resistant against more lipophilic complexes, whereas A2780cis cells exhibited a comparable degree of resistance against all investigated compounds. However, the reduction in resistance factor of HCT-8ox cells cannot be explained by increased influx suggesting that other resistance mechanisms are circumvented upon exposure to more lipophilic compounds. Though resistance against more lipophilic platinum complexes analogues is lower we conclude that enhancing lipophilicity is not a successful strategy to overcome platinum resistance as higher lipophilicity is also associated with lower cytotoxic activity.     

Prostate-specific expression of p53(R172L) differentially regulates p21, Bax, and mdm2 to inhibit prostate cancer progression and prolong survival

Loss of heterozygosity or mutation at the p53 tumor suppressor gene locus is frequently associated with advanced human prostate cancer. Hence, replacement p53 gene therapy may prove to be efficacious for this disease. While many mutations result in p53 molecules with oncogenic properties, other variants may possess wild-type properties with increased tumor suppressor activity. We have chosen to investigate the activity of a naturally occurring variant p53 molecule, p53(R172L), carrying an arginine-to-leucine mutation at codon 172. We demonstrate that p53(R172L) can differentially activate expression of genes involved in cell cycle control and apoptosis in vitro. Transgenic mice expressing a subphysiological level of a p53(R172L) minigene (PB-p53(R172L)) in the prostate epithelium were generated and bred to the transgenic adenocarcinoma mouse prostate (TRAMP) model of prostate cancer. While PB-p53(R172L) transgenic mice developed normally with no detectable prostate gland phenotype, we observed a significant increase in the apoptotic index in the prostate glands of TRAMP x PB-p53(R172L) F1 mice. We noted an increase in the expression of Bax in the bigenic mice concomitant with the reduced incidence and rate of tumor growth and increased survival. While low-level expression of the p53(R172L) variant had no obvious influence on normal prostate tissue, it was able to significantly inhibit prostate cancer progression in the context of a genetically predisposed model system. This suggests that additional tumor-related events specifically influence the ability of the variant p53(R172L) molecule to inhibit tumor growth. These studies support gene therapy strategies employing specific p53 variants.     

软骨多糖诱导小鼠S180细胞凋亡的作用机制

目的研究软骨多糖对S180荷瘤小鼠的作用,并探讨其抑瘤作用机制。方法采用小鼠肉瘤S180细胞建立动物腹水瘤模型,通过腹腔注射软骨多糖进行治疗,治疗期间抽取腹水瘤细胞进行细胞生物学分析。通过HE染色,流式细胞术、TUNEL法检测细胞形态学方面、细胞周期及凋亡率的变化情况;通过免疫荧光方法检测Fas、增殖细胞核抗原(PCNA)的表达情况。结果软骨多糖可以明显提高S180荷瘤小鼠的生存率,细胞形态学观察可见细胞出现细胞质浓缩、核固缩及凋亡小体等现象。软骨多糖作用后的S180细胞,其细胞周期被阻遏于G2/M期,Fas蛋白的表达水平于给药24 h后升高,增殖细胞核抗原PCNA表达下降。结论软骨多糖可能通过影响肿瘤细胞周期和Fas、PCNA蛋白的表达来诱导S180细胞凋亡,并显著抑制肿瘤细胞的生长,延长S180荷瘤小鼠的生存时间,研究证实动物软骨多糖具有潜在的药用价值。     

Antitumor activities and interaction with DNA of oxaliplatin-type platinum complexes with linear or branched alkoxyacetates as leaving groups

Five oxaliplatin-typed platinum complexes containing trans-1R, 2R-diaminocyclohexane chelating platinum cores, characteristic of linear or branched alkoxycarboxylates as leaving groups, were biologically evaluated. These compounds showed higher antitumor activity, lower toxicity in vivo than cisplatin or oxaliplatin. And the results revealed that the antitumor activity and interaction with DNA of these compounds were highly related to the nature of leaving groups. Among these complexes, 5a, cis-(trans-1R, 2R-diaminocyclohexane) bis (2-tert-butoxyacetate) platinum(II), showed the highest antitumor activity and the lowest toxicity.     

Lorvotuzumab mertansine,a CD56-targeting antibody-drug conjugate with potent antitumor activity against small cell lung cancer in human xenograft models

Lorvotuzumab mertansine (LM) is an antibody-drug conjugate composed of a humanized anti-CD56 antibody, lorvotuzumab, linked via a cleavable disulfide linker to the tubulin-binding maytansinoid DM1. CD56 is expressed on most small cell lung cancers (SCLC), providing a promising therapeutic target for treatment of this aggressive cancer, which has a poor five-year survival rate of only 5–10%. We performed immunohistochemical staining on SCLC tumor microarrays, which confirmed that CD56 is expressed at high levels on most (~74%) SCLC tumors. Conjugation of lorvotuzumab with DM1 did not alter its specific binding to cells and LM demonstrated potent target-dependent cytotoxicity against CD56-positive SCLC cells in vitro. The anti-tumor activity of LM was evaluated against SCLC xenograft models in mice, both as monotherapy and in combination with platinum/etoposide and paclitaxel/carboplatin. Dose-dependent and antigen-specific anti-tumor activity of LM monotherapy was demonstrated at doses as low as 3 mg/kg. LM was highly active in combination with standard-of-care platinum/etoposide therapies, even in relatively resistant xenograft models. LM demonstrated outstanding anti-tumor activity in combination with carboplatin/etoposide, with superior activity over chemotherapy alone when LM was used in combinations at significantly reduced doses (6-fold below the minimally efficacious dose for LM monotherapy). The combination of LM with carboplatin/paclitaxel was also highly active. This study provides the rationale for clinical evaluation of LM as a promising novel targeted therapy for SCLC, both as monotherapy and in combination with chemotherapy.     

Pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of novel traditional Chinese medicine-platinum anticancer agents in rats

The pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution profiles of a novel series of traditional Chinese medicine-platinum (TCM-Pt) compounds [Pt(C(8)H(8)O(5))(NH(2)R)(2)]: 1 (where R=H), 3 (R=CH(3)) and 5 (R=C(6)H(10)), were studied in Sprague-Dawley rats following a single bolus intravenous (i.v.) injection. Platinum concentrations in total plasma, plasma ultrafiltrate, urine and tissues were measured by flameless atomic absorption spectroscopy. Pharmacokinetic studies showed that plasma concentrations of total and free platinum for the novel TCM-Pt compounds as well as cisplatin and carboplatin declined in a biexponential manner with a short distribution half-life (t(1/2alpha): 0.12-0.34h). Compared with cisplatin, the novel TCM-Pt compounds had a longer elimination half-life (t(1/2beta)), larger dose normalized area under the curve (AUC/D), larger volume of distribution at steady-state (V(ss)), slower clearance (CL) of free platinum and higher percentage of cumulative urinary excretion (CUE), which can be attributed to their lower chemical reactivities. In tissues, the highest Pt concentrations were found in the kidney, followed by the liver and the lowest in the heart; no Pt was detected in the brain. Twenty-four hours after drug administration, platinum concentrations in tissues were significantly lower for the novel TCM-Pt compounds. These findings suggest that the novel compounds might afford higher clinical efficacy and reduced systemic side effects, when compared with cisplatin.     

Lorvotuzumab mertansine,a CD56-targeting antibody-drug conjugate with potent antitumor activity against small cell lung cancer in human xenograft models

Lorvotuzumab mertansine (LM) is an antibody-drug conjugate composed of a humanized anti-CD56 antibody, lorvotuzumab, linked via a cleavable disulfide linker to the tubulin-binding maytansinoid DM1. CD56 is expressed on most small cell lung cancers (SCLC), providing a promising therapeutic target for treatment of this aggressive cancer, which has a poor five-year survival rate of only 5–10%. We performed immunohistochemical staining on SCLC tumor microarrays, which confirmed that CD56 is expressed at high levels on most (~74%) SCLC tumors. Conjugation of lorvotuzumab with DM1 did not alter its specific binding to cells and LM demonstrated potent target-dependent cytotoxicity against CD56-positive SCLC cells in vitro. The anti-tumor activity of LM was evaluated against SCLC xenograft models in mice, both as monotherapy and in combination with platinum/etoposide and paclitaxel/carboplatin. Dose-dependent and antigen-specific anti-tumor activity of LM monotherapy was demonstrated at doses as low as 3 mg/kg. LM was highly active in combination with standard-of-care platinum/etoposide therapies, even in relatively resistant xenograft models. LM demonstrated outstanding anti-tumor activity in combination with carboplatin/etoposide, with superior activity over chemotherapy alone when LM was used in combinations at significantly reduced doses (6-fold below the minimally efficacious dose for LM monotherapy). The combination of LM with carboplatin/paclitaxel was also highly active. This study provides the rationale for clinical evaluation of LM as a promising novel targeted therapy for SCLC, both as monotherapy and in combination with chemotherapy.     

亚油酸铂靶向脂质体抗肿瘤特性的研究

用超声波制备了内部包裹亚油酸铂,表面有抗人乳腺癌单克隆抗体ＭｃＡｂＧｐ－１Ｄ８的亚油酸铂靶向脂质体和亚油酸铂非靶向脂质体,研究了这些脂质体绎腹部注射到荷瘤裸鼠之后的组织分布和抑瘤效果,实验结果表明,靶向脂质体亚油酸铂在肿瘤组织的含量明显高于游离亚油酸铂组;在肾,肝,肺,脾,心脏等器官中,前者的含量比后者有所降低,分别在接种癌细胞后６天,１２天和２４天,按６ｍｇ／ｋｇ的剂量分别注射ＰＢＳ,游离亚油酸     

香菇C91-3菌LP1蛋白在小鼠体内的抗肿瘤免疫作用

目的 通过观察注射C91-3菌LP1蛋白对H22荷瘤小鼠的影响,探讨LP1蛋白在小鼠体内的抗肿瘤免疫作用。方法 使用鼠肝癌H22细胞接种于BALB/C小鼠右腋下,建立小鼠H22实体瘤模型。取上述建立成功的H22实体瘤模型小鼠64只,体重20～25 g;分为A、B两组,每组32只。A组再分为LP1实验Ⅰ组（300 μg/只）、LP1实验Ⅱ组（100 μg/只）、PBS对照组和顺铂对照组（4 mg/kg）,每组8只,各组隔日给药1次,共给药5次。A组用于检测LP1蛋白作用后在小鼠体内对H22肿瘤的抑瘤作用、血清中IL-2含量以及脾中NK细胞活性等生理指标。B组按同样的方法分组,隔日给药1次,直至荷瘤小鼠死亡,记录各组小鼠的生存期,计算生命延长率。结果 LP1蛋白可以延长H22荷瘤小鼠的生存期,LP1实验组生存期达16.6 d,较PBS对照组13.2 d有明显提高。LP1蛋白在体内对H22实体瘤具有一定的抑制作用,对H22实体瘤进行病理切片、HE染色观察后发现,LP1实验组中H22肿瘤组织较PBS对照组肿瘤组织内出现炎性细胞浸润,局部可见坏死现象。使用ELISA法和LDH法分别检测H22荷瘤小鼠血清中IL-2含量以及NK细胞活性,发现LP1实验组IL-2水平和NK细胞活性较PBS对照组和顺铂对照组显著提高。结论 LP1蛋白可延长H22荷瘤小鼠的生存期限,提高小鼠的生存质量,具有一定的肿瘤抑制作用。其抑制作用主要是由增强H22荷瘤小鼠自身免疫力,提高NK细胞活性,发挥机体自身肿瘤免疫功能造成的。     

Retained platinum uptake and indifference to p53 status make novel transplatinum agents active in platinum-resistant cells compared to cisplatin and oxaliplatin

Despite the clinical success of platinum-containing drugs in the treatment of solid tumors, acquired resistance remains a major obstacle. We previously identified a group of novel transplanaramine or transplatinum compounds based on distinct activity profiles in the NCI-60 panel. In the present study, parental KB-3.1 cells with wild-type p53 and its cisplatin- and oxaliplatin-resistant sublines harboring mutant p53 proteins were used to contrast several transplatinum compounds with cisplatin and oxaliplatin. The transplatinum compounds retained cytotoxic activity in the resistant cell lines. While intracellular accumulation and DNA platination of cisplatin and oxaliplatin was decreased in the resistant cells, the transplatinum compounds both accumulated intracellularly and platinated DNA at comparable levels in all cell lines. Cytoflow analysis confirmed that cisplatin and oxaliplatin alter the cell cycle distribution and result in apoptosis; however, at comparably toxic concentrations, the transplatinum compounds did not alter the cell cycle distribution. Analysis of the cytoplasmic fraction treated with acetone showed that cisplatin and oxaliplatin readily bound to macromolecules in the pellet, whereas a larger percentage of the transplatinum compounds remained in the supernatant. We concluded that, distinct from platinum compounds currently in use, transplatinum compounds accumulate intracellularly in resistant cells at levels comparable to those in drug-sensitive cells, do not affect the cell cycle and thus retain cytotoxicity independent of p53 status and likely have cytoplasmic targets that are important in their activity.     

A Synthetic Podophyllotoxin Derivative Exerts Anti-Cancer Effects by Inducing Mitotic Arrest and Pro-Apoptotic ER Stress in Lung Cancer Preclinical Models

Some potent chemotherapy drugs including tubulin-binding agents had been developed from nature plants, such as podophyllotoxin and paclitaxel. However, poor cytotoxic selectivity, serious side-effects, and limited effectiveness are still the major concerns in their therapeutic application. We developed a fully synthetic podophyllotoxin derivative named Ching001 and investigated its anti-tumor growth effects and mechanisms in lung cancer preclinical models. Ching001 showed a selective cytotoxicity to different lung cancer cell lines but not to normal lung cells. Ching001 inhibited the polymerization of microtubule resulting in mitotic arrest as evident by the accumulation of mitosis-related proteins, survivin and aurora B, thereby leading to DNA damage and apoptosis. Ching001 also activated pro-apoptotic ER stress signaling pathway. Intraperitoneal injection of 2 mg/kg Ching001 significantly inhibited the tumor growth of A549 xenograft, while injection of 0.2 mg/kg Ching001 decreased the lung colonization ability of A549 cells in experimental metastasis assay. These anti-tumor growth and lung colonization inhibition effects were stronger than those of paclitaxel treatment at the same dosage. The xenograft tumor tissue stains further confirmed that Ching001 induced mitosis arrest and tumor apoptosis. In addition, the hematology and biochemistry tests of blood samples as well as tissue examinations indicated that Ching001 treatment did not show apparent organ toxicities in tested animals. We provided preclinical evidence that novel synthetic microtubule inhibitor Ching001, which can trigger DNA damage and apoptosis by inducing mitotic arrest and ER stress, is a potential anti-cancer compound for further drug development.     

Zinc depletion suppresses tumor growth in mice

The hypothesis that in tumor-bearing animals an increase of host hepatic zinc metallothionein (Zn-MT) causes a restriction of zinc in the tumor tissue was studied. Three types of tumors were induced in laboratory mice by cell transplant. Tumor growth appears to be inhibited under zinc-deficient conditions, even in cases where zinc deficiency was started after tumor cell transplant. The survival times of tumor-bearing mice were prolonged by administration of cadmium chloride, which induces the synthesis of a combined zinc-cadmium metallothionein derivative in the host liver, but not in the tumor tissue, leading to an increase of hepatic zinc in the treated animals. The uptake of⁶⁵Zn by the liver of Cd-treated, tumor bearing mice was significantly higher than that of controls whereas uptake of⁶⁵Zn by tumor cells was significantly higher in controls than in the treated animals. These results suggest that restriction of zinc intake suppresses tumor growth.     

Retained platinum uptake and indifference to p53 status make novel transplatinum agents active in platinum-resistant cells compared to cisplatin and oxaliplatin

Despite the clinical success of platinum-containing drugs in the treatment of solid tumors, acquired resistance remains a major obstacle. We previously identified a group of novel transplanaramine or transplatinum compounds based on distinct activity profiles in the NCI-60 panel. In the present study, parental KB-3.1 cells with wild-type p53 and its cisplatin- and oxaliplatin-resistant sublines harboring mutant p53 proteins were used to contrast several transplatinum compounds with cisplatin and oxaliplatin. The transplatinum compounds retained cytotoxic activity in the resistant cell lines. While intracellular accumulation and DNA platination of cisplatin and oxaliplatin was decreased in the resistant cells, the transplatinum compounds both accumulated intracellularly and platinated DNA at comparable levels in all cell lines. Cytoflow analysis confirmed that cisplatin and oxaliplatin alter the cell cycle distribution and result in apoptosis; however, at comparably toxic concentrations, the transplatinum compounds did not alter the cell cycle distribution. Analysis of the cytoplasmic fraction treated with acetone showed that cisplatin and oxaliplatin readily bound to macromolecules in the pellet, whereas a larger percentage of the transplatinum compounds remained in the supernatant. We concluded that, distinct from platinum compounds currently in use, transplatinum compounds accumulate intracellularly in resistant cells at levels comparable to those in drug-sensitive cells, do not affect the cell cycle and thus retain cytotoxicity independent of p53 status and likely have cytoplasmic targets that are important in their activity.     

Platinum cytotoxic drugs in the municipal wastewater and drinking water,a validation method and health risk assessment

Three cancerostatic platinum compounds (CPCs) including cisplatin, carboplatin and oxaliplatin are complexes of Pt and classified as probable carcinogenic compounds to humans. This study aimed to perform health risk assessment of platinum cytotoxic drugs for drinking water by developing a sensitive analytical method in the water resource of Qom Province in the central part of Iran. Concentrations of the platinum drugs were determined, including 052 ± 0.2 µg/L for cisplatin, 0.94 ± 0.36 µg/L for carboplatin and 0.27 ± 0.16 µg/L for oxaliplatin in influent samples, and 0.24 ± 0.07 µg/L for cisplatin, 0.28 ± 0.05 µg/L for carboplatin and 0.11 ± 0.01 µg/L for oxaliplatin in effluent samples. The results indicated that in all the well water samples related to the groundwater, the concentration of the platinum-based compounds was lower than the calculated limits of quantification (LOQ); the concentration of cisplatin, carboplatin and oxaliplatin across the samples in the station of drinking water distribution was also below the limits of detection (LOD). The resulting margin of exposure (MOE) is lower than one (MOE < 1) for the three groups including children, pregnant women and lactation women related to cisplatin and carboplatin was determined through exposure to raw and untreated drinking water. Further research is recommended to be conducted in this area, particularly environmental fate of metabolites and transformation products.     

In vitro biological evaluation of platinum(II) complexes with 1-(methoxy substituted benzyl) azetidine-3,3-dicarboxylato ligands

A number of platinum(II) complexes with ammine or 1R,2R-diaminocyclohexane as carrier ligands and 1-(methoxy-substituted benzyl) azetidine-3,3-dicarboxylate as leaving groups were synthesized and spectrally characterized. Biological evaluation in vitro showed that some of compounds showed positive antitumor activity. In particular, complex 3a, (1R,2R-diaminocyclohexane)[1-(3-methoxylbenzyl) azetidine-3,3-dicarboxylato)-O,O'] platinum(II), possessed a potent antitumor effect comparable to cisplatin and/or oxaliplatin, and very low toxicity in vivo. Preliminary antitumor mechanism of 3a has been investigated by cell apoptosis assays compared with cisplatin and oxaliplatin.