A new fluorescent oxaliplatin(iv) complex with EGFR-inhibiting properties for the treatment of drug-resistant cancer cells

Platinum chemotherapy is part of every second anticancer treatment regimen. However, its application is limited by severe side effects and drug resistance. The combination of platinum-based chemotherapeutics with EGFR inhibitors has shown remarkable synergism in clinical treatment. To enhance the tolerability of this combination, we designed a novel multi-action oxaliplatin-based platinum(iv) complex with an EGFR-inhibiting moiety (KP2749). KP2749 releases two independent cytotoxic agents upon reduction: oxaliplatin and the EGFR inhibitor KP2187, which was selected for its strong intrinsic fluorescence that became quenched upon complexation to metal ions. In particular, KP2749 demonstrated high stability and specific KP2187 release, with quenched fluorescent properties in its intact form, facilitating the investigation of its intracellular reduction. Notably, by exploiting its fluorescence, we demonstrated that intact KP2749 itself exhibited EGFR-inhibitory properties. Furthermore, subsequent experiments indicated that our complex was able to overcome resistance to oxaliplatin and EGFR inhibitors in vitro and in xenograft models in vivo. These effects were not only based on EGFR inhibition and DNA damage, but also improved cellular drug uptake. Finally, in silico docking analysis confirmed that the intact KP2749 complex had EGFR-binding properties, which were different from free KP2187. Consequently, these data suggested that the coordination of EGFR inhibitors to metal cores (like platinum) allow the fine-tuning of their EGFR-targeting properties. In conclusion, this study not only presents a new potential anticancer drug but also offers a novel fluorescent tool to study the intracellular drug release kinetics of platinum(iv) complexes.