Exploring the potential of tamoxifen-based copper(II) dichloride in breast cancer therapy

Abstract

For decades, tamoxifen-based hormone therapy has effectively addressed oestrogen receptor positive (ER+) luminal A breast cancer. Nonetheless, the emergence of tamoxifen resistance required innovative approaches, leading to hybrid metallodrugs with several therapeutic effects besides the inhibition of oestrogen receptor α (ERα). Drawing inspiration from tamoxifen metabolite structures (4-hydroxytamoxifen and 4,4′-dihyroxytamoxifen), a phenyl ring was replaced by a bidentate 2,2′-bipyridine donor moiety to give 4-[1,1-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)but-1-en-2-yl]-2,2′-bipyridine (L), enabling coordination of bioactive transition metal compounds such as copper(II) dichloride, yielding [CuCl(μ-Cl)(L-κ2N,N′)]2 (1). Notably, copper(II) complex 1 exhibited remarkable activity within the low micromolar concentration range against ER+ human glioblastoma U251, as well as breast carcinomas MDA-MB-361 and MCF-7, surpassing the efficacy of previously reported palladium(II) and platinum(II) dichloride analogs against these cell lines. The pronounced efficacy of complex 1 against triple-negative MDA-MB-231 cells highlights its potential multitherapeutic approach, evident through induction of apoptosis and antioxidant activity. This study evaluates the potential of copper–tamoxifen hybrid complex 1 as a potent therapeutic candidate, highlighting its diverse mechanism of action against challenging breast cancer subtypes.