In vitro and in vivo evaluation of first-generation carbosilane arene Ru(II)-metallodendrimers in advanced prostate cancer

[Display omitted] •Ruthenium(II) carbosilane metallodendrimers containing arene moieties were evaluated.•Metallodendrimers are promising antitumor agents against resistant prostate cancer.•In vitro, they displayed cytotoxic, antiproliferative and antimetastatic behaviors.•In vivo, metallodendrimers inhibited tumor growth and delayed the tumor progression.•They exerted a selective action in the tumor and a fast elimination via urine route. Prostate cancer is the fifth cause of death among men worldwide. Patients suffering resistant prostate tumor, unresponsive to common treatments, can only be treated with palliative therapy. Ruthenium(II) carbosilane metallodendrimers containing arene moieties were evaluated as a novel antitumor nanotherapy against resistant prostate cancer. The preclinical evaluation included relevant in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo assays, in an experimental mice model of human prostate cancer. Promising cytotoxic, antiproliferative and antimetastatic behaviors were observed. After treatment with these nanocompounds, mice underwent a significant reduction of tumor volume, in comparison to non-treated animals. The selective antitumor behavior and the lack of toxicity, potentially make ruthenium(II) metallodendrimers promising agents for cancer therapy.