Anti-cancer activity of di- and tri-organotin(IV) compounds with D-(+)-Galacturonic acid on human tumor cells.

We have compared the anti-proliferative activity in vitro, of RSnGala (1-3) [R = Me, n-Bu, Ph] and novel RSnGala (4, 5) [R = Me, n-Bu] with D-(+)-Galacturonic acid [HGala; Gala, q = (2) and (1) for RSnGala and RSnGala, respectively] compounds, towards human tumor cell lines of intestinal carcinoma (HCT-116) and breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7). The new synthesized 4 and 5 compounds were characterized, in solution, by H, C and Sn NMR, that showed that HGala acts as monoanionic moiety and evidenced the dynamic behavior of the compounds, due to inter-conversions involving the anomeric carbon atom of the ligand. Cell viability, apoptosis induction and cell cycle distribution were analyzed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) colorimetric assay and flow cytometry, respectively.