A cancer specific oxaliplatin-releasing Pt(iv)-prodrug

Abstract

We prepared a Pt(IV)-prodrug, which under cancer specific conditions (elevated concentration of reactive oxygen species, ROS) releases a DNA-binding drug oxaliplatin as well as ROS-amplifying drugs p-quinone methide and N-alkylferrocenium. Due to the concerted action of these components, an excellent anticancer effect was achieved: IC₅₀ = 0.4 ± 0.1 μM for human ovarian carcinoma A2780 cells. Importantly, the prodrug was found to be 45-fold less toxic to normal cells (HDFa).