Ruthenium complexes with abiraterone acetate as antiproliferative agents

This study is dedicated to the development of multimodal anticancer agents. We have obtained ruthenium complexes conjugated with the steroid-type antitumor drug abiraterone acetate in order to take advantage of the dual antitumor properties of both ruthenium and abiraterone. The compounds exhibit good antiproliferative activity against cancer cells, with selectivity over primary fibroblasts. Real-time cell analysis revealed that compound dichlorido(η6-p-cymene)(abiraterone acetate)ruthenium(II) had pronounced antiproliferation activity compared to abiraterone acetate. Flow cytometric studies on the mechanism of cell death have revealed that the most active compound induces apoptosis more effectively than abiraterone acetate. Our findings demonstrate the potential of this novel dual-action compound as promising candidates for further development as anticancer agents. Design and synthesis of ruthenium-abiraterone conjugates as dual-action anticancer agents, combining the anticancer properties of ruthenium complexes with the activity of abiraterone acetate. [Display omitted] •Ruthenium complexes conjugated with the abiraterone acetate exhibit good antiproliferative activity with selectivity towards cancer cells.•Complex 1 showed a more pronounced antiproliferative effect in comparison with abiraterone acetate in real-time cell analysis.•Complex 1 causes significant apoptosis induction at an early stage.