Publications by authors named "Helena Garcia"

A family of ten novel ruthenium(II)-cyclopentadienyl organometallics of general formula [Ru(η-CH)(N,N)(PPh(CHCOOR)][CFSO] (1-10) in which (N,N) = 4,4'-R'-2,2'-bipyridyl (R = -H or -CHCHOH; R' = -H, -CH, -OCH, -CHOH, and -CH-biotin) was prepared from [Ru(η-CH)(PPh(CHCOOH))Cl]. All compounds were fully characterized by means of several spectroscopic and analytical techniques, and the molecular structures of [Ru(η-CH)(PPh(CHCOOH))Cl], 1, 3 and 4 have been additionally studied by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The anticancer activity of all compounds was evaluated in sensitive and multidrug-resistant counterpart cell lines from human colorectal cancer (Colo 205 and Colo 320) and non-small cell lung cancer NSCLC (A549, NCI-H460 versus NCI-H460/R) as well.

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Structure-activity studies aiming to understand the role of each coligand in the formulation of new metallodrugs is an important subject. In that frame, six new compounds with general formula [Fe(η-CH)(dppe)(L)][CFSO] with L = benzonitriles (1-4) or carbon monoxide (5) and compound [Fe(η-CH)(CO)(PPh)][CFSO] (6) were synthesized and compared with three other previously reported compounds [Fe(η-CH)(CO)(L)(PPh)][CFSO]. We were particularly interested in assessing the effect of dppe vs.

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The search for more effective and selective drugs to overcome cancer multidrug resistance is urgent. As such, a new series of ruthenium-cyclopentadienyl ("RuCp") compounds with the general formula [Ru(η-CHR)(4,4'-R'-2,2'-bipy)(PPh)] were prepared and fully characterized. All compounds were evaluated toward non-small cell lung cancer cells with different degrees of cisplatin sensitivity (A549, NCI-H2228, Calu-3, and NCI-H1975), showing better cytotoxicity than the first-line chemotherapeutic drug cisplatin.

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Five new iron (II) complexes bearing imidazole-based (Imi-R) ligands with the general formula [Fe(η-CH)(CO)(PPh)(Imi-R)][CFSO] were synthesized and fully characterized by several spectroscopic and analytical techniques. All compounds crystallize in centrosymmetric space groups in a typical "piano stool" distribution. Given the growing importance of finding alternatives to overcome different forms of multidrug resistance, all compounds were tested against cancer cell lines with different ABCB1 efflux pump expression, namely, the doxorubicin-sensitive (Colo205) and doxorubicin-resistant (Colo320) human colon adenocarcinoma cell lines.

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Introduction: The transition to digital pathology has been carried out by several laboratories across the globe, with some cases described in Portugal. In this article, we describe the transition to digital pathology in a high-volume private laboratory, considering the main challenges and opportunities.

Material And Methods: Our process started in 2020, with laboratory workflow adaptation and we are currently using a high-capacity scanner (Aperio GT450DX) to digitize slides at 20×.

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The need for new therapeutic approaches for triple-negative breast cancer is a clinically relevant problem that needs to be solved. Using a multi-targeting approach to enhance cancer cell uptake, we synthesized a new family of ruthenium(II) organometallic complexes envisaging simultaneous active and passive targeting, using biotin and polylactide (PLA), respectively. All compounds with the general formula, [Ru(η-CpR)(P)(2,2'-bipy-4,4'-PLA-biotin)][CFSO], where R is -H or -CH and P is P(CH), P(CHF) or P(CHOCH), were tested against triple-negative breast cancer cells MDA-MB-231 showing IC values between 2.

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We report the case of a 69-year-old male with a relevant alcohol consumption and a history of prostate cancer who underwent screening upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and colonoscopy. The upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed an ulcerated mass in the middle esophagus occupying half the circumference. Histologic examination was compatible with a squamous cell carcinoma.

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The interaction between human serum transferrin (hTf) and three promising organometallic Ru (II)- (η-CH) derived complexes, that have already shown strong in vitro cytotoxicity towards human cancer cell lines, has been investigated using fluorescence spectroscopic techniques. The results suggested that the formation of Ru-hTf systems involves a dynamic collision. The binding process occurs spontaneously (ΔG < 0), mainly driven by hydrophobic interactions.

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Cancer is one of the worst health issues worldwide, representing the second leading cause of death. Current chemotherapeutic drugs face some challenges like the acquired resistance of the tumoral cells and low specificity leading to unwanted side effects. There is an urgent need to develop new compounds that may target resistant cells.

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A new family of eighteen Cu(i) complexes of the general formula [Cu(PP)(LL)][BF4], where PP is a phosphane ligand and LL represents an N,O-heteroaromatic bidentate ligand, has been synthesized and fully characterized by classical analytical and spectroscopic methods. Five complexes of this series were also characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The cytotoxicity of all compounds was evaluated in breast (MCF7) and prostate (LNCap) human cancer cells and in a normal prostate cell line (RWPE).

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Ruthenium complexes of carboranyl ligands offer the possibility of dual action (chemo + radiotherapy) that might result in significant clinical benefits. In that frame, we describe herein the development of ruthenium-carboranyl complexes bearing bipyridyl derivatives with the general formula [3-CO-3,3-{κ-4,4'-R-2,2'-bipy}--3,1,2-RuCBH] (R = CH, RuCB1 or R = CHOH, RuCB2). Both compounds crystallized in the monoclinic system, showing the expected three-legged piano stool structure.

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In this work we explored the possibility of improving the selectivity of a cytotoxic Ru complex [RuCp(PPh)(2,2'-bipy)][CFSO] (where Cp = η-cyclopentadienyl) TM34 towards FGFR(+) breast cancer cells. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of TM34 in a phosphatidylcholine membrane model pinpointed the cyclopentadienyl group as a favorable derivatization position for the peptide conjugation approach. Three new Ru(ii) complexes presenting a functionalized η-cyclopentadienyl were synthesized, namely [Ru(η-CHCOOH)(2,2'-bipy)(PPh)][CFSO] (TM281) and its precursors, [Ru(η-CHCOOCHCH)(η-2,2'-bipy)(PPh)][CFSO] (3) and [Ru(η-CHCOOCHCH)(PPh)Cl] (2).

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A family of compounds with the general formula [Fe(η-CH)(CO)(PPh)(NCR)] has been synthesized (NCR = benzonitrile (); 4-hydroxybenzonitrile (); 4-hydroxymethylbenzonitrile (); 4-aminobenzonitrile (); 4-bromobenzonitrile (); and, 4-chlorocinnamonitrile ()). All of the compounds were obtained in good yields and were completely characterized by standard spectroscopic and analytical techniques. Compounds , , and crystallize in the monoclinc P21/c space group and packing is determined by short contacts between the phosphane phenyl rings and cyclopentadienyl (compounds and ) or π-π lateral interactions between the benzonitrile molecules (complex ).

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Prospective anticancer metallodrugs should consider target-specific components in their design in order to overcome the limitations of the current chemotherapeutics. The inclusion of vitamins, which receptors are overexpressed in many cancer cell lines, has proven to be a valid strategy. Therefore, in this paper we report the synthesis and characterization of a set of new compounds [Ru(η-CH)(P(CHR))(4,4'-R'-2,2'-bpy)] (R = F and R' = H, ; R = F and R' = biotin, ; R = OCH and R' = H, ; R = OCH and R' = biotin, ), inspired by the exceptional good results recently obtained for the analogue bearing a triphenylphosphane ligand.

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Dear Editor, Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia (ALHE) is a rare, locally proliferating disorder that affects predominantly the head and neck region (1,2). There seems to be a higher incidence in middle-aged Caucasian women (2,3). A 28-year-old female patient with no relevant personal or family medical history and only taking an oral contraceptive, presented to our department with multiple, well delimited, infracentimetric erythematous papules with a smooth surface on the left frontal, temporal, and preauricular regions (Figure 1).

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigated the biological effects and mechanisms of three polymer-'ruthenium-cyclopentadienyl' conjugates (RuPMC) and a parental compound (Ru1) on human cancer cells, particularly focusing on ovarian and breast cancer lines.
  • All tested compounds demonstrated significant anti-cancer activity with low effective concentrations, with RuPMC compounds mainly localizing within cells, unlike Ru1, which stayed at the membrane.
  • PMC3 showed potential in inducing apoptosis at lower concentrations than the standard drug cisplatin, highlighting its effectiveness against cisplatin-resistant cancer cells and suggesting it could be a promising candidate for future cancer treatments.
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Two new ruthenium complexes, [Ru(η-Cp)(PPh)(2,2'-bipy-4,4'-R)] with R = -CHOH (Ru1) or dibiotin ester (Ru2) were synthesized and fully characterized. Both compounds were tested against two types of breast cancer cells (MCF7 and MDA-MB-231), showing better cytotoxicity than cisplatin in the same experimental conditions. Since multidrug resistance (MDR) is one of the main problems in cancer chemotherapy, we have assessed the potential of these compounds to overcome resistance to treatments.

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Here, we present the case of a 78-year-old male patient with undifferentiated spindle cell sarcoma on the posteromedial surface of the right leg who experienced a long-lasting progression-free survival. Due to an underlying cardiac disease, the patient was not suitable for anthracyclines. In September 2015, he received first-line chemotherapy with trabectedin (Yondelis®) at the approved dosage and regimen - concomitant with external radiotherapy (RT).

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A family of six phosphane Cu(i) complexes bearing N,N, N,O and N,S bidentate ligands was synthesized. All the compounds were fully characterized by classical analytical and spectroscopic methods, and five of them were also characterized by X-ray diffraction studies. All the compounds exhibit high cytotoxicity against the human breast cancer cell line MCF7 with IC50 values far lower than those found for cisplatin, a current chemotherapeutic in clinical use.

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New ruthenium methyl-cyclopentadienyl compounds bearing bipyridine derivatives with the general formula [Ru(η-MeCp)(PPh)(4,4'-R-2,2'-bpy)] (Ru1, R = H; Ru2, R = CH; and Ru3, R = CHOH) have been synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic and analytical techniques. Ru1 crystallized in the monoclinic P2/ c, Ru2 in the triclinic P1̅, and Ru3 in the monoclinic P2/ n space group. In all molecular structures, the ruthenium center adopts a "piano stool" distribution.

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Three new compounds have been synthesized and completely characterized by analytical and spectroscopic techniques. The new bipyridine-perfluorinated ligand L1 and the new organometallic complex [Ru(η-MeCp)(PPh)Cl] (Ru1) crystalize in the centrosymmetric triclinic space group P1¯. Analysis of the phenotypic effects induced by both organometallic complexes Ru1 and [Ru(η-MeCp)(PPh)(L1)][CFSO] (Ru2), on human colorectal cancer cells (SW480 and RKO) survival, showed that Ru2 has a potent anti-proliferative activity, 4-6 times higher than cisplatin, and induce apoptosis in these cells.

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Introduction: Although salvage radiotherapy (SRT) for PSA recurrence after radical prostatectomy provides better oncological outcomes when delivered early, in the absence of detectable disease many patients are treated for macroscopic locally recurrent tumors. Due to limited data from prospective studies, we hypothesized an important variability in the SRT management of these patients. Our aim was to investigate current practice patterns of SRT for local macroscopic recurrence after radical prostatectomy.

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A new family of copper(I) complexes of general formula [Cu(dppe)(NN)] have been synthesized and fully characterized, with dppe=1.2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane and NN representing several bidentate heteroaromatic ligands: 2,2'-bipy=2.2'-bipyridine (1), Mebpy=4.

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Two recently published Ru(III) complexes bearing (NO) tetradentate bis(aminophenolate) ligands, formulated as [Ru(III)(salan)(PPh)Cl] (salan is the tetradentate ligand 6,6'-(1S,2S)-cyclohexane-1,2-diylbis(azanediyl)bis(methylene)bis(3-methoxyphenol) in complex 1, or 2,2'-(1S,2S)-cyclohexane-1,2-diylbis(azanediyl)bis(methylene)bis(4-methoxyphenol) in complex 2; PPh is triphenylphosphane) and found very active against ovarian and breast adenocarcinoma human cells were studied to outline their antitumor mode of action. The human cisplatin-sensitive ovarian adenocarcinoma line A2780 was used herein as the cell model. At a 24h challenge (similarly as found before for 72h) both complexes are active, their cytotoxicity being comparable to that of cisplatin in the same conditions.

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Background: Ruthenium-based anti-cancer compounds are proposed as viable alternatives that might circumvent the disadvantages of platinum-based drugs, the only metallodrugs in clinical use for chemotherapy. Organometallic complexes in particular hold great potential as alternative therapeutic agents since their cytotoxicity involves different modes of action and present reduced toxicity profiles.

Objective: During the last few years our research group has been reporting on a series of organometallic ruthenium(II)- cyclopentadienyl complexes with important cytotoxicity against several cancer cell lines, surpassing cisplatin in activity.

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