Avaliação do potencial antitumoral in vitro e da atividade imunomoduladora do composto mesoiônico 5-(4-clorofenil)-3-metil-4-fenil-1,3-tiazólio-2-tiolato (MI-2)

Abstract

Cancer is classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a group of diseases, wich can develop anywhere in the body, from the uncontrolled grownth of genetically altered cells and wich have the ability to invade adjacent tissues and can therefore, if install simultaneously in more than one organ. It is considered by WHO as the second leading cause of death in the world, killing about 9.6 million people. In Brazil, according to the National Cancer Institute (INCA), it is estimated that in 2020 309,750 new cases of cancer will be registered for men and about 316,280 new cases for women. Cancer patients are usually treated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgical intervention and in some cases, immunotherapy. In view of the high cost and the remarkable toxicity presented by the vast majority of treatments currently available, such as weight loss and hair, in addition to anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia and immunosuppression that make them extremely vulnerable; the search for new therapeutic possibilities is necessary to increase the chances of cure and quality of life. Mesoionic compounds are a group of substances defined as heterocyclic betaines, mostly of synthetic origin, biologically active and wich have been widely studied for their chemical characteristics and diverse functions, among which the antitumor potential, which has been the object of prominence, stands out of numerous surveys. The compound used in the present work (MI-2) is one of the derivatives of the thiadiazole class mesoionics called 5-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-methyl-4-phenyl-1,3-thiazolium-2-thiolate. The objective of this work was to analyze the antitumor potential of this compound, evaluating the cytotoxicity in tumor cell lines, morphological characteristics of these cells, DNA fragmentation; in addition to the analysis of cytotoxicity in cells of the imune system of rats (Rattus novergicus). The results presented so far, demonstrate satisfactory responses in antitumor evaluation tests, especially for leukemias; and a probable low toxicity in isolated rat lymphocytes. This compound is part of an ongoing research project.