Ruthenium(III) Complexes for Neuroendocrine Tumor Treatment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are inadequate, as somatostatin analogs only alleviate symptoms and chemotherapies like cisplatin and doxorubicin have marginal effects, leaving a significant need for more effective pharmaceuticals and methods for treating and managing these tumors.
Innovation Solution
Administration of a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of trans-[tetrachlorobis(1H-indazole)ruthenate(III), such as sodium or potassium trans-[tetrachlorobis(1H-indazole)ruthenate(III)], to patients with neuroendocrine tumors, either as a standalone treatment or in combination with other anti-cancer agents, to treat, prevent, or delay the onset of NETs, including refractory cases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If somatostatin analogs such as Octreotide LAR are used to treat neuroendocrine tumors, then symptoms are alleviated by blocking hormone release, but the treatment only provides symptomatic relief without addressing tumor growth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the therapeutic action from symptomatic hormone blockade to direct anti-proliferative activity against tumor cells. Ruthenium(III) complexes are designed to specifically target and kill tumor cells through DNA binding and induction of apoptosis, separating the symptom management function from the primary anti-cancer mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical and biological parameters of the treatment by using ruthenium(III) complexes with specific ligands (indazole, pyridine carboxylic acid derivatives) that provide both somatostatin-like hormone blocking activity and direct cytotoxic effects. This dual-action mechanism transforms the treatment from purely symptomatic to therapeutically effective against tumor growth.
2Reliability
If chemotherapies with cisplatin, etoposide and doxorubicin are administered to treat neuroendocrine tumors, then some anti-cancer effect is achieved, but the treatment has only marginal effect with significant toxicity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameter from conventional platinum-based or anthracycline chemotherapy to ruthenium(III) organometallic complexes. These complexes have different mechanisms of action (DNA binding, ROS generation, apoptosis induction) and improved toxicity profiles compared to cisplatin, etoposide, and doxorubicin, while maintaining or enhancing anti-proliferative efficacy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite ruthenium(III) complexes combining multiple functional ligands (indazole for tumor targeting, pyridine carboxylic acid derivatives for stability and solubility, chlorine ligands for reactivity). This composite structure provides both effective anti-cancer activity and reduced toxicity compared to conventional single-agent chemotherapies.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional treatments are used for refractory neuroendocrine tumors, then standard therapy options are limited, but treatment effectiveness is insufficient for resistant cases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the therapeutic parameter by introducing ruthenium(III) complexes with mechanisms of action distinct from conventional chemotherapy. These complexes induce apoptosis through multiple pathways (DNA damage, ROS generation, mitochondrial disruption) that bypass resistance mechanisms developed against traditional agents like cisplatin and doxorubicin.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses ruthenium(III) complexes as intermediary agents that bridge the gap between conventional chemotherapy and targeted therapy. The complexes can be functionalized with specific ligands that target tumor-associated receptors or accumulate in tumor tissue, providing a customizable platform for overcoming refractory disease.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and compositions for treating neuroendocrine tumors are disclosed.