We have shown earlier that the
iron containing,
ferric-sorbitol-citrate complex (FSC) inhibited proliferation of cultured mouse
melanoma B16, GHC, KB, HeLa and CaCo2 cells and caused mouse
melanoma regression in vivo. This
drug did not affect the proliferation of the nonmalignant fibroblast L929 line, human bone marrow-HBS, VERO and HEF cell line. It is also known, that some
metallocene derivatives posses antitumour properties resulting principally from their action on the metabolism of
DNA, and subsequently,
RNA and
proteins. We synthesized in our laboratory some
ferrocene analogs (F168 and F169) and tested their antiproliferative ability for malignant human
carcinoma Hep2 and mouse
melanoma F10 cell lines. As control cell lines, human HEF and mice L929 fibroblasts were used. The tested
iron substances were very potent in inhibiting the growth of malignant cell lines, whereas they had no significant inhibitory effect on the viability of nonmalignant fibroblasts. The most pronounced growth inhibitory and cytotoxic effect was found in the malignant F10 cells and the most potent was
ferrocene F169. Because of their selective effect on malignant cells, the
ferric-sorbitol-citrate complex as well as tested
ferrocenes will be further investigated and submitted as new antitumour substances.