We investigated the aluminium-salen complex MBR-8 as a potential anti-cancer agent. To see apoptotic effects induced by MBR-8, alone and in combination with common cytostatic drugs, DNA-fragmentations were studied using the flow cytometric analysis. Western blot analysis and measurement of the mitochondrial membrane potential with a JC-1 dye were employed to identify the pathway of apoptosis. An impressive overcoming of multidrug-resistance in leukemia (Nalm6) cells was observed. Additionally, solid tumor cells including Burkitt-like lymphoma (BJAB) and mamma carcinoma cells (MCF-7) are affected by MBR-8 in the same way. Western blot analysis revealed activation of caspase-3. MBR-8 showed very pronounced selectivity with regard to tumor cells and high synergistic effects in Nalm6 and daunorubicin-resistant Nalm6 cells when administered in combination with vincristine, daunorubicin and doxorubicin. The aluminium-salen complex MBR-8 showed very promising anti-cancer properties which warrant further development towards a cytostatic agent for future chemotherapy. Studies on aluminium compounds for cancer therapy are rare, and our report adds to this important body of knowledge.

我们研究了铝-salen 复合物MBR-8作为潜在的抗癌剂。为了观察MBR-8单独和与常见细胞生长抑制药物组合诱导的细胞凋亡效应，使用流式细胞术分析研究了 DNA 片段。采用蛋白质印迹分析和用 JC-1 染料测量线粒体膜电位来鉴定细胞凋亡的途径。观察到令人印象深刻地克服了白血病 (Nalm6) 细胞中的多药耐药性。此外，包括伯基特样淋巴瘤 (BJAB) 和乳腺癌细胞 (MCF-7) 在内的实体肿瘤细胞也以相同的方式受到MBR-8 的影响。蛋白质印迹分析揭示了 caspase-3 的激活。MBR-8当与长春新碱、柔红霉素和多柔比星联合给药时，Nalm6 和耐柔红霉素的 Nalm6 细胞对肿瘤细胞显示出非常显着的选择性和高协同效应。铝-salen 复合物MBR-8显示出非常有前途的抗癌特性，这保证了进一步开发用于未来化疗的细胞抑制剂。关于用于癌症治疗的铝化合物的研究很少见，我们的报告增加了这一重要的知识体系。