Two telomerase-targeting Pt(ii) complexes of jatrorrhizine and berberine derivatives induce apoptosis in human bladder tumor cells.

Two novel Pt(ii) complexes, [Pt(B-TFA)Cl]Cl (Pt1) and [Pt(J-TFA)Cl]Cl (Pt2) with jatrorrhizine and berberine derivatives (B-TFA and J-TFA) were first prepared as desirable luminescent agents for cellular applications and potent telomerase inhibitors, which can induce bladder T-24 tumor cell apoptosis by targeting telomerase, together with induction of mitochondrial dysfunction, telomere DNA damage and cell-cycle arrest. Importantly, T-24 tumor inhibition rate (TIR) was 50.4% for Pt2, which was higher than that of Pt1 (26.4%) and cisplatin (37.1%). Taken together, all the results indicated that jatrorrhizine and berberine derivatives Pt1 and Pt2 show low toxicity and could be novel Pt-based anti-cancer drug candidates.