Chemistry and biology of three representative gold(III) compounds as prospective anticancer agents

Aubipyc, i.e.[(bipydmb-H)Au(OH)][PF6] (where bipydmb-H = deprotonated 6-(1,1-dimethylbenzyl)-2,20- bipyridine), Auoxo6, i.e. [(bipy2Me)2Au2(l-O)2][PF6]2 (where bipy2Me = 6,60-dimethyl-2,20-bipyridine) and Au2phen i.e. [(phen2Me)2Au2(l-O)2][PF6]2 (where phen2Me = 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline), are three representative gold(III) compounds prepared and characterised in our laboratories during the last few years that manifested remarkable anticancer properties in vitro.The antiproliferative properties of these gold(III) compounds were analysed in detail against a wide panel of human tumour cell lines.Recent studies described the reactions of these gold compounds with various proteins at the molecular level; adduct formation was clearly documented in a few cases and their nature determined. Preliminary results suggest that these gold compounds may act as strong inhibitors of the selenoenzyme thioredoxin reductase and cause mitochondrial dysfunction. Based on the available in vitro data, these gold compounds look quite promising as prospective anticancer agents.