Dual-Action NSAID-Gold(I) Alkynyl Hybrids for Synergistic Anti-Inflammatory and Anticancer Therapy of Colorectal Cancer. (PubMed, Inorg Chem)
Complexes based on naproxen, ibuprofen, and salicylic acid derivatives display potent antiproliferative activity against Caco-2/TC7 colon cancer cells, outperforming oxaliplatin and being comparable to auranofin, while showing markedly reduced cytotoxicity in breast cancer lines and nonmalignant cells, thus indicating promising selectivity. Additionally, complex 1 selectively inhibits the enzyme cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) over COX-1 and reduces IL-8 expression without affecting PTGS2 transcription, highlighting a post-transcriptional anti-inflammatory action. These results support NSAID-derived alkynyl gold(I) complexes as promising multitarget agents for colorectal cancer intervention, combining disruption and COX-2 modulation.