Group VIII Metal Carbonyl Cluster-Boronic Acid Conjugates: Cytotoxicity and Mode of Action Studies

A set of metal carbonyl cluster-boronic acid conjugates of the group VIII metals (Fe, Ru, and Os) were synthesized and their antiproliferative effects measured against two breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) and a noncancerous breast epithelial (MCF-10A) cell line. The cytotoxicity followed the order Ru > Os > Fe for the MDA-MB-231 cells, although the latter two exhibited similar cytotoxicity against MCF-7 and MCF-10A cells. The osmium species {Os-3(CO)(10)(mu-H)[mu-SC6H4-p-B(OH)(2)]} (2) could be chemically oxidized to its hydroxy analogue [Os-3(CO)(10)(mu-H)(mu-SC6H4-p-OH)] (2-OH), which showed comparable cytotoxicity. Mode of action studies pointed to an apoptotic pathway for cell death.