title: N-heterocyclic carbene complexes of silver and gold as novel tools against breast cancer progression.
abstract: Metal carbenic complexes have received considerable attention in both the catalysis and biological fields for their potential applications in cancer and antimicrobial therapies.
  
  
  
  A small series of new silver and gold N-heterocyclic carbene complexes has been designed and synthesized. Among the tested complexes, one compound was particularly active in inhibiting anchorage-dependent and -independent breast cancer proliferation, and inducing cell apoptosis via a mitochondria-related process. The antitumor activity was associated to the transcriptional activation of the tumor suppressor gene p53 in an Sp1-dependent manner, as evidenced by biological and docking studies.
  
  
  
  Our results highlight the importance and the versatility of N-heterocyclic carbene complexes of gold and silver as useful tools against breast cancer progression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Salerno, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmela
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Saturnino
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Health & Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy.
authors.forename: Ines
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Barone
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Health & Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Iacopetta
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry & Biology, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Salerno, Italy.
authors.forename: Annaluisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mariconda
authors.forename: Maria Stefania
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Sinicropi
authors.affiliation: UOS Proteomics IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST National Institute for Cancer Research, Largo R. Benzi 10, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Camillo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rosano
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Health & Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Campana
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Health & Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Catalano
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry & Biology, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Salerno, Italy.
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Health & Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy.
authors.forename: Sebastiano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Andò
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D018450:Disease Progression; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D008697:Methane / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C030011:carbene; D012834:Silver; D006046:Gold; D008697:Methane
keywords: N-heterocyclic carbene complexes; Sp1; breast cancer; mitochondria; p53; transmetallation