Mechanistic insight into the inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases by platinum substrates.

Platinum compounds are among the most used DNA-damaging anticancer drugs, however they can also be tailored to target biological substrates different from DNA, for instance enzymes involved in cancer progression. We recently reported that some platinum complexes with three labile ligands inhibit matrix metalloproteinase activity in a selective way. We have now extended the investigation to a series of platinum complexes having three chlorido or one chlorido and a dimethylmalonato leaving ligands.

Synthesis, biophysical studies, and antiproliferative activity of platinum(II) complexes having 1,2-bis(aminomethyl)carbobicyclic ligands.

A selected chemical library of six platinum(II) complexes having 1,2-bis(aminomethyl)carbobicyclic ligands were synthesized after a rational design in order to evaluate their antiproliferative activity and the structure-activity relationships. The cytotoxicity studies were performed using cancer cell lines sensitive (A2780) and resistant (A2780R) to cisplatin. Excellent cytotoxicity was observed for most of complexes, which presented better resistance factors than cisplatin against the A2780R cell line.

Zoledronic acid affects over-angiogenic phenotype of endothelial cells in patients with multiple myeloma.

Therapeutic doses of zoledronic acid markedly inhibit in vitro proliferation, chemotaxis, and capillarogenesis of bone marrow endothelial cells of patients with multiple myeloma. Zoledronic acid also induces a sizeable reduction of angiogenesis in the in vivo chorioallantoic membrane assay. These effects are partly sustained by gene and protein inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 in an autocrine loop.

Endothelial cells in the bone marrow of patients with multiple myeloma.

Endothelial cells (EC) were extracted through a lectin-based method from bone marrow of 57 patients with active multiple myeloma (MM) and compared with their healthy quiescent counterpart, human umbilical vein EC (HUVEC). MMECs exhibit specific antigens that indicate ongoing angiogenesis and embryo vasculogenesis; solid intercellular connections, hence stability of MM neovessels; and frequent interactions with plasma cells, hence tumor dissemination. They show heterogeneous antigen expression, hence existence of subsets.