Photodynamic therapy that uses photosensitizers which only become toxic upon light-irradiation provides a strong alternative to conventional cancer treatment due to its ability to selectively target tumour material without affecting healthy tissue. Transition metal complexes are highly promising PDT agents due to intense visible light absorption, yet the majority are toxic even without light. This study introduces a small, photostable, charge-neutral platinum-based compound, Pt(II) 2,6-dipyrido-4-methyl-benzenechloride, complex 1, as a photosensitizer, which works under visible light. Activation of the new photosensitizer at low concentrations (0.1–1 μM) by comparatively low dose of 405 nm light (3.6 J cm−2) causes significant cell death of cervical, colorectal and bladder cancer cell lines, and, importantly, a cisplatin resistant cell line EJ-R. The photo-index of the complex is 8. We demonstrate that complex 1 induces irreversible DNA single strand breaks following irradiation, and that oxygen is essential for the photoinduced action. Neither light, nor compound alone led to cell death. The key advantages of the new drug include a remarkably fast accumulation time (diffusion-controlled, minutes), and photostability. This study demonstrates a highly promising new agent for photodynamic therapy, and attracts attention to photostable metal complexes as viable alternatives to conventional chemotherapeutics, such as cisplatin.

Malignant rhabdoid tumour (MRT) is a rare, aggressive paediatric neoplasm, primarily diagnosed in those below the age of three. MRTs most commonly arise in the central nervous system and kidneys. A poor prognosis accompanies the MRT diagnosis, with a reported 2-year survival rate of 30%. Thus, there is an urgent need for the development of new therapies for this malignancy. Members of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family have previously been reported to be overexpressed in various cancers. As such, small molecule inhibitors of these family members have entered clinical trials. However, the role of IAPs in MRT has not been examined yet. The present study is the first report of the expression of a range of IAPs, including X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP), cellular inhibitor of apoptosis protein 1 (cIAP1), cellular inhibitor of apoptosis protein 2 (cIAP2), livin and survivin in MRT cell lines. Furthermore, the results demonstrated the ability of the XIAP inhibitor, embelin, to sensitise MRT cell lines to TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) treatment. The enhanced cell death detected upon cotreatment was dependent on caspase-8 and co-occurred with caspase-8 and caspase-3 cleavage, suggesting engagement of the extrinsic apoptotic pathway. Sensitisation to TRAIL was accompanied by livin cleavage, alongside downregulation of survivin and the caspase-8 inhibitor FLIP L. In addition, knockdown of XIAP using siRNA enhanced TRAIL-mediated cell death, suggesting that this process may in part mediate sensitisation. In conclusion, the present results suggested that IAP inhibition may present a novel avenue for the treatment of MRT.

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