Chemistry Seminar

Unconventional Metal-Based Drugs as Potential Therapeutic Treatments for Breast Cancer.

Marie Contell, The City University of New York.

Abstract: Metal-based chemotherapeutics such as platinum-based drugs in combination or monotherapy regimes are used to treat a large number of cancers. However, their efficacy is still hindered by clinical problems, including acquired or intrinsic resistance, a limited spectrum of activity, and high toxicity leading to significant side effects. A number of unconventional metal-based compounds highly effective in cancers resistant to cisplatin and other chemotherapeutics, have been described over the past decade (including recent successful clinical trials). In this context, our laboratory is exploring some of these metallodrugs as potential treatments for different types of breast cancer (still the deadliest type of cancer for women). Two types of breast cancers have a direr prognosis and are especially difficult to treat: triple negative and HER-2 positive breast cancers. We will present our latest work on Ruthenium(II) compounds containing p-cymene and iminophosphorane ligands which have been extremely efficacious in triple negative breast cancer (both in vitro and in vivo).1,2 New derivatives include florescent analogues. We are also working on strategies for the delivery of metal-based drugs so that they can be efficiently released at the specific tumor site to improve selectivity, bioavailability and blood circulation times.3,4 We will report on strategies to target HER-2 breast cancers by using antibody drug conjugates containing Trastuzumab and gold(I) cytotoxic species.

Meeting Information

Meeting link: https://wright.webex.com/wright/j.php?MTID=m12ded79e71d125543af411407543...

Meeting number:  172 925 4036

Password: wsuchemistry987