Disulfide-based 2-pyridyl-hydrazone prochelators induce iron deprivation and oxidative stress in ovarian cancer cells. (PubMed, J Biol Inorg Chem)
We report the synthesis and biological evaluation of disulfide-based prochelators featuring a 2-pyridyl-hydrazone motif and resulting in a tridentate (S,N,N) donor set as found in several antiproliferative chelators (e.g., Triapine, Dp44mT, DpC, COTI-2). Accordingly, the preformed iron complex FePH3 also leads to apoptosis and iron dysregulation, and its toxicity is enhanced when the antioxidant capacity of the cells is impaired. The incorporation of the 2-pyridyl-hydrazone motif in disulfide-based prochelators therefore combines iron sequestration with pro-oxidant effects that could enhance the pharmacological profile of this chelation approach for cancer applications.