Photosensitive Ru(II) Complexes as Inhibitors of the Major Human Drug Metabolizing Enzyme CYP3A4. (PubMed, J Am Chem Soc)
Five Ru(II)-based derivatives were prepared from two analogs of the CYP3A4 inhibitor ritonavir, 4 and 6: [Ru(tpy)(L)(6)]Cl (tpy = 2,2':6',2″-terpyridine) with L = 6,6'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine (Mebpy; 8), dimethylbenzo[i]dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine (Medppn; 10) and 3,6-dimethyl-10,15-diphenylbenzo[i]dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine (MePhdppn; 11), [Ru(tpy)(Mebpy)(4)]Cl (7) and [Ru(tpy)(Medppn)(4)]Cl (9). In prostate adenocarcinoma DU-145 cells, compound 9 had the best synergistic effect with vinblastine, the anticancer drug primarily metabolized by CYP3A4 in vivo. Thus, our study establishes a new paradigm in CYP inhibition using metalated complexes and suggests possible utilization of photoactive CYP3A4 inhibitory compounds in clinical applications, such as enhancement of therapeutic efficacy of anticancer drugs.