Evaluation of the in vitro antitumor potential of the ruthenium complex [Ru(AmSal)(dppe)2]PF6 in breast tumor cells

• Grant number: 18/13979-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2019
• End date: December 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology
• Principal Investigator: Márcia Regina Cominetti
• Grantee: Luani Rezende Godoy
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Recently, there has been a change in Brazilian demographic profile: an increase in the elderly population is observed, which is accompanied by an increase in chronic degenerative diseases, such as cancer, which has high rates of incidence and mortality. Among the many types of cancer that exist, breast cancer is the second most common type in the world and the most incidental and most deadly among women. But it can be considered a cancer with a good prognosis if diagnosed and treated early. Currently, the most used treatments for breast cancer have a high rate of cell resistance and low selectivity, causing several side effects. Thus, it is necessary to seek more selective alternatives. With this propose, several studies have been carried out with the use of ruthenium complexes (Ru), which would be more selective because of Ru's ability to mimic iron in some biomolecule bonds and the tumor cells' need for more iron. In addition, ruthenium has a redox potential, allowing two states of oxidation, which would be interesting for strategies of activation of the complex in a tumor environment, making a drug even more specific. The project proposes the evaluation of a ruthenium complex for its ability to inhibit cell proliferation, adhesion and migration and its influence on the metastatic cascade of breast tumor cells through in vitro assays.