Aim: Newly synthesized platinum(IV) complexes with ethylenediamine-N,N'-diacetate ligands (EDDA-type) (butyl-Pt and pentyl-Pt) were investigated against two cancer (A549 lung, and HTB 140 melanoma) and one noncancerous (MRC-5 embryonic lung fibroblast) human cell lines. Materials and Methods: The effects of these agents were compared with those of cisplatin after 6-, 24-and 48-h treatment. Sulforhodamine-B (SRB) assay was performed to estimate the cytotoxic effect, while the inhibitory effect on cell proliferation was measured using 5-bromo-2,deoxyuridine (BrdU)
incorporation assay. Cell cycle analysis was performed by flow cytometry. Type of cell death induced by these agents was determined by electrophoretic analysis of DNA, flow cytometry and by western blot analysis of proteins involved in induction of apoptosis. The effects of gamma irradiation, alone and in combination with platinumbased compounds, were examined by clonogenic and SRB assays. Results: All examined platinum-based compounds had inhibitory and antiproliferative effects on A549 cells, but not on HTB140 and MRC-5 cells. Butyl-Pt, pentyl-Pt and cisplatin arrested the cell cycle in the S-phase and induced apoptotic cell death via regulation of expression of B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) and BCL2-associated X (BAX) proteins. Platinum-based compounds increased the sensitivity of A549 cells to gamma irradiation. Butyl-Pt and pentyl-Pt showed better antitumour effects against A549 cells than did cisplatin, by interfering in cell proliferation and the cell cycle, and by triggering apoptosis. Conclusion: The effects of gamma irradiation on tumour cells may be amplified by pre-treatment of cells with platinum-based compounds.Cisplatin or cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) is an effective chemotherapeutic agent that is used in nearly 50% of all patients with cancer (1). It has been used in the fight against ovarian, head and neck, bladder, cervical, oesophageal, as well as against small-cell and non-small-cell lung cancer. The clinical utility of cisplatin is based on the inhibition of the processes that are important for growth and proliferation of cancer cells by binding to DNA molecules and preventing replication, transcription and cell-cycle progression, leading to tumour cell death (2, 3). However, cisplatin administration is associated with adverse effects and therapy resistance. The development of platinum analogues that have similar effectiveness as cisplatin but better toxicity profiles and lack cross-resistance is the major concern in research centres worldwide. Different modifications of cisplatin have been investigated to achieve this aim.Platinum complexes are widely used in cancer therapy research. Approximately 30 platinum(II) and platinum(IV) 5001