Cytotoxic analogs of the iron(III) chelator pyridoxal isonicotinoyl hydrazone: effects of complexation with copper(II), gallium(III), and iron (III) on their antiproliferative activities.

This study examined if complexation with metals increased the antiproliferative activities of chelators of the pyridoxal isonicotinoyl hydrazone (PIH) class. Addition of iron(III) to some PIH analogs markedly depressed their activities, whereas it had little effect on others. The gallium(III) complex of PIH, but not its copper(II) complex, was more efficient than the apochelator at inhibiting [3H]thymidine incorporation.