Session Speaker

Copper(II) Carboxylates as a Perspective Cytotoxic Agents
Milan Melnik
Slovakia


Several copper(II) carboxylates have been synthesized, characterized and tested for cytotoxic activity using Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells in vivo. The primary aim of this study is identification and evaluation of potential anticancer agents. Therefore, cytotoxicity and mode of action of several copper(II) carboxylates have been investigated. The measure of the cytotoxic effect was the degree of inhibition of 14C - adenine and 14C - valine incorporation into TCA insoluble fraction of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma. The inhibitory effect was characterized by IC50 values (molar concentration of compound required for 50% reduction of the incorporation rate). In general copper(II) complexes of the respective carboxylic acids are more active than only single acids. Some of the copper(II) carboxylates inhibited biosynthesis of bio-macromolecules (DNA, RNA, proteins), earobic glycolysis of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells, endogenous as well as exogenous respiration proportional. We assumed that the inhibitory effects could be the consequence of membrane effect of the respective copper(II) carboxylates. The results will be discussed.