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Special Issue "Metals and Cancer"

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A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Oncology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2023 | Viewed by 1583

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Emil Malucelli

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Guest Editor

Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Interests: X-ray synchrotron-based techniques; biomineralization; osteoblastic differentiation; 3D cell culture; cellular imaging
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Concettina Cappadone

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Guest Editor

Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Interests: cancer; magnesium; MDR; cell cycle; bone; differentiation
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Dr. Alessandra Gianoncelli

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ELETTRA Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., 34149 Trieste, Italy
Interests: X-ray microscopy; X-ray fluorescence; ptychography and related applications in life sciences; environmental science and cultural heritage
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Metals are fundamental cellular elements for a number of biological processes, including the fundamental metabolic pathways such as energy transduction and cell proliferation. Several metals, such as Ca²⁺, K⁺, Na⁺, Mg²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺, are essential for mitochondrial function and cellular metabolism, including oxidative phosphorylation, mitochondrial integrity, proliferative signal transduction, and apoptosis. As a consequence, alterations in metal levels and/or changes in the expression of proteins involved in metal metabolism have been documented in different pathologies and several types of cancers.

Moreover, considering the key role of metals for cell growth, the development of drugs capable of metal sequestration has become an attractive target for the development of novel anti-cancer agents.

Furthermore, a large body of preclinical and clinical studies on dietary deficiencies indicates that metal dis-regulation triggers neoplastic cell transformation and/or reduces the anti-tumor functions of immune cells by controlling a plethora of chemical and biological reactions.

This Special Issue aims to encourage innovation and research activities in this field.

We invite researchers to contribute original research and review articles regarding the involvement of metal level and metabolism in cancer occurrence, progression, and prognosis.

Dr. Emil Malucelli
Dr. Concettina Cappadone
Dr. Alessandra Gianoncelli
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

cancer
metal
cell metabolism
mitochondria
cell proliferation

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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Open AccessArticle

Metallomic Signatures of Lung Cancer and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(18), 14250; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241814250 - 18 Sep 2023

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Abstract

Lung cancer (LC) is the leading cause of cancer deaths, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can increase LC risk. Metallomics may provide insights into both of these tobacco-related diseases and their shared etiology. We conducted an observational study of 191 human serum samples, including those of healthy controls, LC patients, COPD patients, and patients with both COPD and LC. We found 18 elements (V, Al, As, Mn, Co, Cu, Zn, Cd, Se, W, Mo, Sb, Pb, Tl, Cr, Mg, Ni, and U) in these samples. In addition, we evaluated the elemental profiles of COPD cases of varying severity. The ratios and associations between the elements were also studied as possible signatures of the diseases. COPD severity and LC have a significant impact on the elemental composition of human serum. The severity of COPD was found to reduce the serum concentrations of As, Cd, and Tl and increased the serum concentrations of Mn and Sb compared with healthy control samples, while LC was found to increase Al, As, Mn, and Pb concentrations. This study provides new insights into the effects of LC and COPD on the human serum elemental profile that will pave the way for the potential use of elements as biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis. It also sheds light on the potential link between the two diseases, i.e., the evolution of COPD to LC. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metals and Cancer)

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Open AccessArticle

New Copper Complexes with Antibacterial and Cytotoxic Activity

Adriana Corina Hangan

Luminița Simona Oprean

and

Gheorghe Borodi

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(18), 13819; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241813819 - 07 Sep 2023

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Abstract

The discovery of a new non-toxic metal complex with biological activity represents a very active area of research. Two Cu⁺² complexes, [Cu₄(L1)₄(OH)₄(DMF)₂(H₂O)] (C1) (HL1 = N-(5-ethyl-[1,3,4]–thiadiazole–2-yl)-benzenesulfonamide) and [Cu(L2)₂(phen)(H₂O)] (C2) (HL2 = N-(5-(4-methylphenyl)-[1,3,4]–thiadiazole–2-yl)-naphtalenesulfonamide), with two new ligands were synthesized. The X-ray crystal structures of the complexes were determined. In both complexes, Cu⁺² is five-coordinated, forming a CuN₂O₃ and CuN₄O chromophore, respectively. The ligands act as monodentate, coordinating the metal ion through a single N_thiadiazole atom; for the two complexes, the molecules from the reaction medium (phenantroline, dimethylformamide and water) are also involved in the coordination of Cu⁺². The complexes have a distorted square pyramidal square-planar geometry. The compounds were characterized by FT-IR and UV-Vis spectroscopy. Using the microdilution method, the antibacterial activity of the complexes was determined against four Gram-positive and two Gram-negative bacteria, with Gentamicin as the positive control. Cytotoxicity studies were carried out on two tumor cell lines (HeLa, DLD-1) and on a normal cell line (HFL1) using the MTT method and Cisplatin as a positive control. Flow cytometric assessment of apoptosis induced by the complexes on the three cell lines was also performed. Both complexes present in vitro biological activities but complex C2 is more active. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metals and Cancer)

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Review

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Open AccessReview

Cancer 3D Models for Metallodrug Preclinical Testing

Diogo M. Engrácia

Catarina I. G. Pinto

and

Filipa Mendes

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(15), 11915; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241511915 - 25 Jul 2023

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Abstract

Despite being standard tools in research, the application of cellular and animal models in drug development is hindered by several limitations, such as limited translational significance, animal ethics, and inter-species physiological differences. In this regard, 3D cellular models can be presented as a step forward in biomedical research, allowing for mimicking tissue complexity more accurately than traditional 2D models, while also contributing to reducing the use of animal models. In cancer research, 3D models have the potential to replicate the tumor microenvironment, which is a key modulator of cancer cell behavior and drug response. These features make cancer 3D models prime tools for the preclinical study of anti-tumoral drugs, especially considering that there is still a need to develop effective anti-cancer drugs with high selectivity, minimal toxicity, and reduced side effects. Metallodrugs, especially transition-metal-based complexes, have been extensively studied for their therapeutic potential in cancer therapy due to their distinctive properties; however, despite the benefits of 3D models, their application in metallodrug testing is currently limited. Thus, this article reviews some of the most common types of 3D models in cancer research, as well as the application of 3D models in metallodrug preclinical studies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metals and Cancer)

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