Antiproliferative activity of derivatives of trans-bis(salicylaldoximato)copper(II) in vitro. Some in vivo properties of the parent compound.

Several derivatives and analogs of the recently reported antiproliferative and antitumor agent trans-bis(salicylaldoximato)copper(II) (CuSAO2) have been prepared and tested for antiproliferative activity against L1210 leukemia cells in vitro. The salicylaldimine analog of CuSAO2 had a very strong antiproliferative activity, the 2-day IC50 value being lower than 3 micrograms/ml. The 2,3-dihydroxybenzaldoxime analog was equally active with CuSAO2, while the corresponding 2,5-dihydroxy derivative had a slightly lower activity. The 2,3,4-trihydroxybenzaldoxime derivative had a much lower activity than had the dihydroxybenzaldoxime derivatives. The zinc(II) analog of CuSAO2 had only a low antiproliferative activity. The ligand of CuSAO2, salicylaldoxime, resembles pyridoxal oxime, a vitamin B6 antagonist and a powerful inhibitor of pyridoxal kinase. An attempt to reduce the toxicity of CuSAO2 in vivo with pyridoxal hydrochloride led to increased toxicity.