<i>cis</i> -Diammine(pyridine)chloroplatinum(II), a monofunctional platinum(II) antitumor agent: Uptake, structure, function, and prospects

<jats:p> We have identified unique chemical and biological properties of a cationic monofunctional platinum(II) complex, <jats:italic>cis</jats:italic> -diammine(pyridine)chloroplatinum(II), <jats:italic>cis</jats:italic> -[Pt(NH <jats:sub>3</jats:sub> ) <jats:sub>2</jats:sub> (py)Cl] <jats:sup>+</jats:sup> or cDPCP, a coordination compound previously identified to have significant anticancer activity in a mouse tumor model. This compound is an excellent substrate for organic cation transporters 1 and 2, also designated SLC22A1 and SLC22A2, respectively. These transporters are abundantly expressed in human colorectal cancers, where they mediate uptake of oxaliplatin, <jats:italic>cis</jats:italic> -[Pt(DACH)(oxalate)] (DACH = <jats:italic>trans-R</jats:italic> , <jats:italic>R</jats:italic> -1,2-diaminocyclohexane), an FDA-approved first-line therapy for colorectal cancer. Unlike oxaliplatin, however, cDPCP binds DNA monofunctionally, as revealed by an x-ray crystal structure of <jats:italic>cis</jats:italic> -{Pt(NH <jats:sub>3</jats:sub> ) <jats:sub>2</jats:sub> (py)} <jats:sup>2+</jats:sup> bound to the N7 atom of a single guanosine residue in a DNA dodecamer duplex. Although the quaternary structure resembles that of B-form DNA, there is a base-pair step to the 5′ side of the Pt adduct with abnormally large shift and slide values, features characteristic of cisplatin intrastrand cross-links. cDPCP effectively blocks transcription from DNA templates carrying adducts of the complex, unlike DNA lesions of other monofunctional platinum(II) compounds like {Pt(dien)} <jats:sup>2+</jats:sup> . cDPCP–DNA adducts are removed by the nucleotide excision repair apparatus, albeit much less efficiently than bifunctional platinum–DNA intrastrand cross-links. These exceptional characteristics indicate that cDPCP and related complexes merit consideration as therapeutic options for treating colorectal and other cancers bearing appropriate cation transporters. </jats:p>