Niacin-ligated platinum()-ruthenium() chimeric complexes synergistically suppress tumor metastasis and growth with potentially reduced toxicity

Niacin-ligated platinum( iv )-ruthenium( ii ) chimeric complexes ( PtRu 1-4 ) have been synthesized and evaluated for their antitumor performance. Using the optimal complex, PtRu-1 , we show that this water-soluble chimeric prodrug not only potently inhibits the metastasis and proliferation of tumor cells but also has an unexpectedly higher safety margin in animals compared with the traditionally-used, clinically approved drug cisplatin. The chimeric Pt( iv )-Ru( ii ) complex was designed to simultaneously release cytotoxic cisplatin and an antimetastatic Ru( ii )-arene compound, thereby producing potent anticancer activity with high drug tolerability in animals.