The new iron(III) 3-oxo-N-(pyridin-2-yl)butanamide complex promotes Ehrlich solid tumor regression in mice via induction of apoptosis.

Currently used chemotherapeutic drugs had serious adverse effects e.g. myelosuppression,
anemia and nephrotoxicity. Thus, developing new alternatives is
of great importance. We aimed to develop a new prospective antitumor complex
combines iron metal ion and 3‐oxo‐N‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)butanamide ligand
that may be effective with less toxicity towards healthy tissues. Anticancer
activities of the developed complex were studied in vitro and in vivo using
induced Ehrlich solid tumor in mice as animal model. In vitro, the complex
(1 mmol/L) exhibited superoxide dismutase (SOD)‐like activity of 86.69 %,
catalase‐like activity of 170 U/100 mL, and 99.06% mortality of Ehrlich ascites
carcinoma (EAC) cells. Complex ability to interact with DNA was proved spectrophotometrically.
Flow‐cytometrically, EAC cells treated with the complex
showed higher apoptosis, caspase 3 activity, and p53 compared to the untreated
EAC cells. In vivo, the complex showed prominent dose‐dependent antitumor
activities. It reduced tumor volume and weight, prolonged mice life span, and
reversed the hematological indices, malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant
capacity (TAC), ALT and urea levels towards normal. Finally, our findings
indicate that the complex motivates Ehrlich solid tumor regression in mice
via induction of apoptosis. Its effect was better than that of cisplatin.