Combination studies of platinum(II)-based metallointercalators with buthionine-S,R-sulfoximine, 3-bromopyruvate, cisplatin or carboplatin.

With current chemotherapeutic treatment regimes often limited by adverse side effects, the synergistic combination of complexes with anticancer activity appears to offer a promising strategy for effective cancer treatment. This work investigates the anti-proliferative activity using a combination therapy approach where metallointercalators of the type [Pt(IL)(AL)](2+) (where IL is the intercalating ligand and AL is the ancillary ligand) are used in combination with currently approved anticancer drugs cisplatin and carboplatin and organic molecules buthionine-S,R-sulfoximine and 3-bromopyruvate. Synergistic relationships were observed, indicating a potential to decrease dose-dependent toxicity and improve therapeutic efficacy.