Salphen metal complexes as potential anticancer agents: interaction profile and selectivity studies toward the three G-quadruplex units in the KIT promoter

Abstract

Five non-charged Salphen metal complexes of Pt(ii), Pd(ii), Ni(ii), Cu(ii) and Zn(ii) bind selectively Kit1 and Kit2, two DNA G-quadruplexes of KIT promoter. They also exhibit dose-dependent cytotoxic activity in MCF-7, HepG2 and HeLa cancer cells.