Dinuclear platinum anticancer complexes with fluorescent N,N′-bis(aminoalkyl)-1,4-diaminoanthraquinones: cellular processing in two cisplatin-resistant cell lines reflects the differences in their resistance profiles

The biological activity of N,N-bis(aminoalkyl)-1,4-diaminoanthraquinones (aminoalkyl is 2-aminoethyl, 3-aminoprop-1-yl and 4-aminobut-1-yl) and their dinuclear platinum complexes has been evaluated in the U2-OS human osteosarcoma cell line and its cisplatin-resistant U2-OS/Pt subline. All the compounds have been found to exhibit high cytotoxicity in the sensitive cell line, and to overcome cisplatin resistance in U2-OS/Pt cells. Cellular processing of N,N-bis(2-aminoethyl)-1,4-diaminoanthraquinone and the respective dinuclear platinum complex in the sensitive and resistant U2-OS cells has been studied over time using digital fluorescence microscopy. Cellular processing of the compounds has been found to be similar in sensitive and resistant U2-OS cells, which is in agreement with the lack of cross-resistance in the U2-OS/Pt cell line. Both the platinum complex and the free ligand quickly enter the cell and accumulate in the nucleus. The platinum complex is excreted from the cell via the Golgi apparatus, while the weakly basic anthraquinone ligand accumulates in the Golgi complex, where it is taken up by lysosomes and then transported to the cell surface. The cellular distribution of the fluorescent anthraquinones and their dinuclear platinum complexes in the sensitive/resistant pair of U2-OS osteosarcoma cell lines is compared with the earlier studied cellular processing in the sensitive/resistant pair of A2780 ovarian carcinoma cell lines. In the A2780cisR cell line, the platinum complexes (and not the free ligands) are sequestered in lysosomes, which is not the case in A2780 sensitive cells. The differences in cellular distribution of the compounds in these two sensitive/resistant pairs of cell lines most likely result from different resistance profiles in A2780cisR and U2-OS/Pt cells. Lysosomes of A2780cisR cells are less acidic than lysosomes of A2780 sensitive cells, which is likely to be the cause of a defect in endocytosis. The disruption of normal endocytosis might facilitate sequestration of the platinum complexes in lysosomes, which partly confers the cross-resistance of these complexes with cisplatin in the A2780cisR cell line. In contrast, sequestration in acidic vesicles does not occur in U2-OS/Pt cells that do not exhibit enhanced lysosomal pH and which are likely to have normal endocytosis.     

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.     

Apoptosis and growth arrest induced by platinum compounds in U2-OS cells reflect a specific DNA damage recognition associated with a different p53-mediated response

Mononuclear and multinuclear platinum complexes are known to induce distinct types of DNA lesions and exhibit different profiles of antitumor activity, in relation to p53 mutational status. In this study, we investigated the cellular effects of exposure to two platinum compounds (cisplatin and the multinuclear platinum complex BBR 3464), in the osteosarcoma cell line, U2-OS, carrying the wild-type p53 gene and capable of undergoing apoptosis or cell cycle arrest in response to diverse genotoxic stresses. In spite of the ability of both compounds to up-regulate p53 at cytotoxic concentrations, exposure to BBR 3464 resulted in cell cycle arrest but only cisplatin was capable of inducing significant levels of apoptosis and phosphorylation at the Ser15 residue of p53. The cisplatin-induced protein phosphorylation, not detectable in cells treated with BBR 3464, was associated with RPA phosphorylation, a specific up-regulation of Bax and down-regulation of p21(WAF1). Cells treated with BBR 3464 displayed a different cellular response with evidence of cytostasis associated with a high induction of p21(WAF1). The regulation of p21(WAF1) after cisplatin or BBR 3464 exposure required a p53 signal, as documented using stable transfectants expressing a dominant-negative form of p53 (175(his)). Taken together, these results indicate that cellular response to different genotoxic lesions (i.e. apoptosis or growth arrest) is associated with a specific recognition of DNA damage and a different p53-mediated signaling pathway. Multinuclear platinum complexes could be regarded as useful tools for investigating the p53-mediated process of cell cycle arrest in response to DNA damage.     

Porphyrin platinum conjugates - new aims

Forty porphyrin platinum conjugates were synthesized, which exhibited a photodynamic effect due to the porphyrin system and a cytostatic effect due to the platinum fragment present in the same molecule. The porphyrin ligands for the platinum complexes were synthesized starting from hematoporphyrin and deuteroporphyrin. The platinum complexes are of the (diamine)PtCl₂, (diamine)Pt(phthalato), (NH₃)₂Pt(dicarboxylato) and (diamine)Pt(dicarboxylato) type. Their antitumor activity was tested with the MDA-MB-231 mammary carcinoma cell line with and without irradiation.     

Synthesis, characterization, and antitumor activity of new chloroethylamine platinum complexes.

A series of cis-bis-(2-chloroethylamine)platinum(II) and platinum(IV) complexes were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, and 1H and 195Pt NMR spectroscopic techniques. Complexes were tested in vitro against murine L1210 leukemia and human ovarian A2780 cell lines and in vivo against the L1210 leukemia model. Some of these complexes showed excellent antitumor activity in both systems. However, all were inactive against cisplatin-resistant A2780/CP cells.     

Antitumor activity of a new platinum(II) complex with low nephrotoxicity and genotoxicity

Cisplatin is an important antineoplastic agent, but dose-limiting nephrotoxicity and the occurrence of cellular resistance prevent its potential efficacy. Moreover, cisplatin is known to be carcinogenic and genotoxic in mammalian cells and this feature is of a special interest due to the risk of inducing secondary malignancies. There is a great interest in developing new platinum agents that have broad spectrum of antitumor activity and reduced toxicity. We have recently synthesized a novel platinum(II) coordination complex containing a pyridine nucleus and a dithiocarbamate moiety as ligands, [Pt(ESDT)(Py)Cl], in order to obtain an agent with more favorable therapeutic indices than cisplatin. In this study, the new platinum(II) complex was tested for its cytotoxicity, by MTT assay, on various human cancer cell lines also including different cisplatin-resistant cells endowed with different mechanisms of resistance. On human peripheral blood lymphocytes we evaluated the genotoxic potential of [Pt(ESDT)(Py)Cl] via micronuclei and SCE detection. We also performed in vivo experiments with the purpose of investigating the antitumor and nephrotoxic effects of the new platinum(II) complex. The antitumor activity was studied in ascitic or solid Ehrlich carcinoma bearing mice while nephrotoxicity was monitored in male Wistar rats by means of histopathological findings of renal specimens and of biochemical investigation on urinary parameters (GS and NAG activities and of TUP excretion) of urine samples. The results reported here indicate that [Pt(ESDT)(Py)Cl] showed a remarkable in vitro antitumor activity (with IC50 values about twofold as low as those of cisplatin), moreover, it markedly circumvented the acquired cisplatin resistance in selected human cancer cells. The analysis of the cytogenetic damage in normal cells clearly attested that the new dithiocarbamate complex, tested at equitoxic concentrations, is less genotoxic than cisplatin. Chemotherapy in Ehrlich carcinoma bearing mice with [Pt(ESDT)(Py)Cl] was significantly better tolerated than that with cisplatin. Against the ascitic tumor, [Pt(ESDT)(Py)Cl], showed an activity noticeably higher than that of cisplatin in increasing the life span of treated animals (% T/C = 190 and 129, respectively). In solid-tumor-bearing mice, [Pt(ESDT)(Py)Cl] induced a tumor size reduction very close to that observed with the reference compound. Finally, our findings obtained from the nephrotoxicity studies demonstrated [Pt(ESDT)(Py)Cl] was not nephrotoxic, contrary to cisplatin which caused a notorious acute proximal tubular damage. In summary, [Pt(ESDT)(Py)Cl] may be considered as a new platinum(II) complex with remarkable antitumor activity and low nephrotoxicity and genotoxicity compared with cisplatin.     

DNA damage induced by novel demethylcantharidin-integrated platinum anticancer complexes

Oxaliplatin is a third generation platinum (Pt) drug with a diaminocyclohexane (DACH) entity, which has recently obtained worldwide approval for the clinical treatment of colon cancer, and apparently operates by a different mechanism of action to the classical cisplatin or carboplatin. Introducing a novel dual mechanism of action is one approach in designing a new platinum-based anticancer agent, whereby an appropriate ligand, such as demethylcantharidin (DMC), is released from the parent compound to exert a cytotoxic effect, in addition to that of the DNA-alkylating function of the platinum moiety. To investigate the likelihood of a novel dual mechanism of anticancer action, demethylcantharidin-integrated Pt complexes: Pt(R,R-DACH)(DMC) with the same Pt-DACH moiety as oxaliplatin, and Pt(NH(3))(2)(DMC) akin to carboplatin; were studied for their ability to induce DNA damage in HCT116 colorectal cancer cells by an alkaline comet assay. The results showed that the DMC ligand released from the novel complexes caused additional DNA lesions when compared with oxaliplatin and carboplatin. The comet assay also revealed that the DNA-damaging behavior of cisplatin is characteristically different; and this study is the first to demonstrate the ability of DMC to induce DNA lesions, thus providing sufficient evidence to explain the superior antiproliferative effect of the novel DMC-integrated complexes.     

Synthesis and characterization of a novel Pd(II) complex with the condensation product of 2-(diphenylphosphino)benzaldehyde and ethyl hydrazinoacetate. Cytotoxic activity of the synthesized complex and related Pd(II) and Pt(II) complexes

A new palladium(II) complex 1 of the condensation product of 2-(diphenylphosphino)benzaldehyde (dpba) and ethyl hydrazinoacetate (etha) was synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, IR, and (1)H NMR spectroscopy. The bound ligand is a bidentate (PN chromophore), the remaining two coordination places being occupied by chloride ions in overall square planar geometry. The cytotoxic activity of the complex 1 and two related Pd(II) and Pt(II) complexes 2 and 3 was tested against a panel of four tumor cell lines. The activity of the complexes was similar to that of cisplatin, the most widely used metal-based antitumor drug. It is important to notice that complexes 2 and 3 were active to cisplatin-resistant U2-OS/Pt cells. Cell cycle alteration investigation, apoptotic assay and gelatin zymography in relation to invasion and metastasis of tumor cells, were performed with all the investigated complexes on Human cervix carcinoma (HeLa) cells. The results suggest that 1 has a similar effect to cisplatin, inducing apoptosis followed by arrest of cells in S phase of cell cycle, while 2 and 3 induce apoptosis without significant perturbations of cell cycle distribution.     

Synthesis and cytotoxicity of new platinum(IV) complexes of mixed carboxylates

In order to develop new antitumor platinum(IV) complexes with highly tuned lipophilicity, a series of (diamine)Pt(IV) complexes of the formula [Pt(IV)(dach)L(3)L'] or [Pt(IV)(dach)L(2)L"(2)] (dach=trans-(+/-)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane; L=acetato, propionato; L'=acetato, propionato, valerato or pivalato; L"=trifluoroacetato) have been synthesized by electrophilic substitution of the tris(carboxylato)hydroxoplatinum(IV) complexes, [Pt(IV)(dach)L(3)OH] (L=acetato, propionato), with various carboxylic anhydrides such as acetic, trifluoroacetic, pivalic and valeric anhydrides. The present platinum(IV) complexes were fully characterized by means of elemental analyses, 1H NMR, mass and IR spectroscopies. The complexes 8 and 10, satisfying the appropriate range of lipophilicity (logP=0.18-1.54), exhibited high activity (ED(50), 5.1 and 1.3 microM, respectively) compared with other complexes, which implies that the lipophilicity is an important factor for the antitumor activity of this series of complexes.     

Palladium and platinum 3,5-diacetyl-1,2,4-triazol bis(thiosemicarbazones): chemistry, cytotoxic activity and structure-activity relationships

The preparation of platinum(II) complexes derived from 3,5-diacetyl-1,2,4-triazol bis(4-phenylthiosemicarbazone) (H(5)L(1)), 3,5-diacetyl-1,2,4-triazol bis(thiosemicarbazone) (H(7)L(2)), 3,5-diacetyl-1,2,4-triazol bis(4-methylthiosemicarbazone) (H(5)L(3)) and 3,5-diacetyl-1,2,4-triazol bis(4-ethylthiosemicarbazone) (H(5)L(3)) is described. The new complexes [Pt(mu-H(3)L(1))](2), [Pt(mu-H(5)L(2))](2), [Pt(mu-H(3)L(3))](2) and [Pt(mu-H(3)L(4))](2) have been characterized by elemental analyses, fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FAB(+)) and spectroscopic studies. The crystal and molecular structure of compounds [Pt(mu-H(3)L(1))](2), parent ligand H(5)L(1) and [Pt(mu-H(3)L(3))](2) have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The ligands coordinate, in a dideprotonate form to the platinum ions in a new tridentate fashion (NNS) and S-brigding bonding modes. Thus the molecular units of the platinum complexes are stacked as dimers. The testing of the cytotoxic activity of the synthesized compounds together with their palladium analogues against human A2780 and A2780cisR epithelial ovarian carcinoma cells lines suggests that the compounds may be endowed with important antitumor properties since they show IC(50) values in a micromolar range similar to those of cisplatin. The structure and antitumor activity relationships of platinum and palladium complexes are also discussed.     

Syntheses, crystal structure and cytotoxicity of diamine platinum(II) complexes containing maltol

The cationic complexes (1,2-diaminoethane)(maltolato)platinum(II) ([Pt(en)(ma)]+) and (1R,2R-1,2-diaminocyclohexane)(maltolato)platinum(II) ([Pt(R,R-DACH)(ma)]+) have been prepared and the structure of [Pt(R,R-DACH)(ma)]NO3 has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The geometry of the metal in [Pt(R,R-DACH)(ma)]NO3 is essentially square planar and the maltolate ligand has a geometry similar to other chelate complexes involving this ligand. The cytotoxicities of the compounds have been assessed in the human cell lines HeLa and K562 and the IC50 values are approximately 32 microM in HeLa cells and 26 microM in K562 cells. In these cell lines the cytotoxicity of cisplatin is higher than the maltolate complexes by a factor of 2 to 3 whereas the cytotoxicity of carboplatin is lower than the maltolate complexes.     

Acridine Orange based platinum(II) complexes inducing cytotoxicity and cell cycle perturbation in spite of GSTP1 up-regulation

A series of new ionic Pt(II) complexes of general formula [Pt(II)(A)n(Cl)(AO)]X (A=en, NH3; n=1, 2; X-=BF4-, NO3-, PF6-, CF3SO3-), 1-5, containing Acridine Orange (AO) bound to the metal atom through the endocyclic N atom, have been tested in human melanoma cells (M14, JR8 and PLF2), human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y and its cis-platin resistant subline SH-SY5Yres. The Pt(II) compounds, and in particular complexes 1 and 4, exhibit higher cytotoxic activity at lower concentration compared to cis-DDP in melanoma cells, affecting cell growth behavior and causing cell cycle perturbation. Moreover, M14 and JR8 cell lines were not able to rescue the impairment due to the new Pt(II) complexes since perturbation of cell cycle phases and cell proliferation inhibition were found after 72 h of recovery time. In order to evaluate whether GSTP1 may play a role in chemo-resistance of our melanoma model, we investigated the effect of the treatment with these Pt(II) compounds on GSTP1 gene expression. Up-regulation of GSTP1, evaluated by Qreal-time PCR was observed after treatment with complexes 1 and 4, showing that the effect of these Pt(II) compounds is GSTP1 indipendent. The lack of resistance of the new Pt(II)-AO complexes and their cytotoxicity, cell growth and cell cycle recovery in melanoma cells provide the basis for the development of new platinum anticancer compounds, directed to those tumors that over express GSTs enzymes.     

Activity of some platinum(II/IV) complexes with O,O-n-butyl-and O,O-n-pentyl-ethylenediamine-N,N'-di-3-propanoate and halogeno ligands against HeLa and K562 cell lines and human PBMC

This paper reports on syntheses and characterization of chlorotribromo(O,O-n-butyl-ethylenediamine-N,N'-di-3-propanoate)platinum(IV) [II], dichlorodiiodo(O,O-n-butyl-ethylenediamine-N,N'-di-3-propanoate)platinum(IV) [III], and dichloro(O,O-n-butyl-ethylenediamine-N,N'-di-3-propanoate)platinum(II) [V] complexes, with the formulae [Pt(dbeddp)Br(3)Cl], [Pt(dbeddp)Cl(2)I(2)] and [Pt(dbeddp)Cl(2)], respectively. The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, infrared, (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy and electrospray mass spectrometry. In the aim to assess the selectivity in the antitumor action of these complexes, as well, as tetrachloro(O,O-n-butyl-ethylenediamine-N,N'-di-3-propanoate)platinum(IV) [I] and tetrachloro(O,O-n-pentyl-ethylenediamine-N,N'-di-3-propanoate)platinum(IV) [IV], the antiproliferative action of these compounds was determined to human adenocarcinoma HeLa cells, to human myelogenous leukemia K562 cells and to normal immunocompetent cells, i.e., on human peripheral blood mononuclear PBMC cells.     

Preparation, characterization, and antitumor activity of water-soluble aminoalkanol platinum(II) complexes

A new series of highly water-soluble aminoalkanol platinum(II) complexes have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, conductance, IR, and 195Pt NMR. Preliminary in vitro and in vivo screening tests for antitumor activities of these complexes against L1210 murine leukemia were performed. In general, these compounds were far less cytotoxic than cisplatin and possessed only a moderate degree of antitumor activity.     

Palladium and platinum famotidine complexes

The molecule of the well-known ulceration inhibitor, famotidine, is an excellent coordinator of transition metal ions. The guanidine, amine group and thiazole nitrogen, and the thioether sulphur are preferential sites to bind metal ions. Pd(II) and Pt(II) derivatives of famotidine have been synthesized and studied structurally. There is evidence that the palladium complex is a monomer while the platinum complex forms a dimer. Due to the interesting structure of the platinum complex several assays have examined the possible antitumour activity. Changes in DNA conformation induced by both complexes have been detected by CD, interstrand crosslinking interactions and electrophoretic mobility, but studies of the cytotoxicity of the platinum compound with U937 human leukemia cells and HeLA human womb carcinoma cells show only a small antiproliferative potential.     

Role of apoptosis and apoptosis-related proteins in the cisplatin-resistant phenotype of human tumor cell lines

Since apoptosis is the primary mode of cell death induced by cisplatin, the role of apoptosis and apoptosis-related gene products in cisplatin resistance was investigated in four human cisplatin-resistant cell lines of different tumour type. A common feature of the resistant sublines was a reduced susceptibility to drug-induced apoptosis compared to parental sensitive lines. Loss of wild-type p53 function was not a general event associated with the development of drug resistance. An increased bcl-2 expression was found in resistant cells characterized by mutant p53 (A431/Pt and IGROV-1/Pt), whereas in osteosarcoma (U2-OS/Pt) and in ovarian carcinoma (A2780/CP) cells with wild-type p53, bcl-2 levels were markedly reduced. U2-OS/Pt cells had a 16-fold increase in the level of Bcl-xL protein. Stable transfection of U2-OS cells with bcl-xL cDNA conferred a low level of drug resistance to cisplatin, suggesting that overexpression of this gene contributes to the ci splatin-resistant phenotype of this osteosarcoma cell system. In conclusion, these observations suggest a variable contribution of apoptosis-related genes to cisplatin resistance depending on the biological background of the cell system and presumably reflecting different pathways of apoptosis. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

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.Abbreviations en ethane-1,2-diamine - GM growth medium - PBS phosphate buffered saline - RPMI Roswell Park Memorial Institute - SRIXE synchrotron radiation-induced X-ray emission - XAFS X-ray absorption fine structure - XANES X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy     

Glucose-conjugated platinum(IV) complexes as tumor-targeting agents: design,synthesis and biological evaluation

A new series of glucose-conjugated Pt(IV) complexes that target tumor-specific glucose transporters (GLUTs) was designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their anticancer activities. All six compounds, namely, A1-A6, exhibited increased cytotoxicity that were almost six fold higher than that of oxaliplatin to MCF-7 cells. These Pt(IV) complexes can be reduced to release Pt(II) complexes and cause the death of tumor cells. Simultaneously, the glycosylated Pt(IV) complexes (30.21–91.33?μM) showed lower cytotoxicity that normal LO2 cells compared with cisplatin (5.25?μM) and oxaliplatin (8.34?μM). The intervention of phlorizin as a GLUTs inhibitor increased the IC₅₀ value of the glycosylated Pt(IV) complexes, thereby indicating the potential GLUT transportability. The introduction of glucose moiety to Pt(IV) complexes can effectively enhance the Pt cellular uptake and DNA platination. Results suggested glucose-conjugated Pt(IV) complexes had potential for further study as new anticancer agents.     

Cytotoxicity and DNA damage induced by a new platinum(II) complex with pyridine and dithiocarbamate

A new platinum(II) complex containing a pyridine nucleus and a dithiocarbamate moiety as ligands ([Pt(ESDT)(Py)Cl]) was evaluated for in vitro cytotoxicity in the cisplatin-sensitive human ovarian 2008 and in the isogenic-resistant C13* cell lines. In both cell types, a tumor cell growth inhibition greater than cisplatin and a complete lack of cross-resistance in C13* cells were found. Despite its molecular size, [Pt(ESDT)(Py)Cl] accumulation was much higher than cisplatin both in parent and resistant cells. Studying the mechanism of action in cell-free media, we established that [Pt(ESDT)(Py)Cl] more efficiently interacts with DNA in vitro compared to cisplatin maintaining a binding preference for GG rich sequences of DNA. On the contrary, DNA platination in vivo by [Pt(ESDT)(Py)Cl] was found lower than cisplatin. An analysis of the type of DNA lesions induced by [Pt(ESDT)(Py)Cl] suggests that the cytotoxic efficacy and the ability to overcome cisplatin resistance seem to be related to a different mechanism of interaction with DNA and/or with other key cellular components.     

Synthesis, cytotoxicity and antitumor activity of platinum(II) complexes of cyclopentanecarboxylic acid hydrazide

New platinum(II) complexes of cyclopentanecarboxylic acid hydrazide (cpcah) were prepared, characterized by elemental analysis, IR and 1H NMR spectra, and evaluated for in vitro cytotoxicity in Friend leukemia (FL) and A2780 ovarian tumor cells, induction of apoptosis in FL cells, as well as for in vivo antitumor activity toward murine L1210 leukemia and Lewis lung carcinoma. The spectral analyses indicated a cis-square planar structure of the complexes with hydrazide ligand coordinated via the NH2 group. The compounds exerted significantly lower in vitro and in vivo toxicities as compared with those of cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II), DDP). On the other hand, the complex [Pt(NH3)(cpcah)Cl2] exhibited antitumor activity against L1210 leukemia in mice comparable to that of cisplatin, resulting at a dose of 42 mg/kg (administered 3 times) in a T/C (mean survival time) of 280%. This compound displayed an in vitro macromolecular synthesis inhibition pattern similar to that of DDP. At concentrations close to the cytostatic ones (10-20 microM) this complex, as well as DDP, was able to induce apoptosis in FL cells as shown by neutral comet assay and morphological analysis. We concluded that there is a correlation between the ability of platinum complexes to induce apoptosis and their antitumor activity.