Modeling the metabolic response of A2780 ovarian cancer cells to gold-based cytotoxic drugs

Abstract Gold compounds are a promising class of experimental anticancer metallodrugs. Unlike platinum-based drugs, their antiproliferative effects are thought to result mainly from modulation of cancer cell metabolism rather than direct interaction with DNA. Previous NMR studies have shown that fou...

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Main Authors: Walter Vieri, Veronica Ghini, Paola Turano, Lara Massai, Luigi Messori, Marco Fondi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:npj Systems Biology and Applications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41540-025-00535-9
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author Walter Vieri
Veronica Ghini
Paola Turano
Lara Massai
Luigi Messori
Marco Fondi
author_facet Walter Vieri
Veronica Ghini
Paola Turano
Lara Massai
Luigi Messori
Marco Fondi
author_sort Walter Vieri
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Gold compounds are a promising class of experimental anticancer metallodrugs. Unlike platinum-based drugs, their antiproliferative effects are thought to result mainly from modulation of cancer cell metabolism rather than direct interaction with DNA. Previous NMR studies have shown that four cytotoxic gold compounds - auranofin, aurothiomalate and two gold N-heterocyclic carbenes - induce distinct metabolic changes in A2780 ovarian cancer cells, suggesting the occurrence of different mechanisms of action. To better understand these effects, we constructed a genome-scale metabolic model (GEM) of A2780 cells to analyze the NMR-detected metabolomic changes. The model successfully predicts the diverse metabolic responses induced by each gold compound and identifies common metabolic changes. These results confirm the potential of GEMs as a powerful tool for interpreting and predicting cellular responses to gold-based drugs, providing insights into their mechanisms of action and potential therapeutic applications.
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spelling doaj-art-aebf5a68274a47d089c97bfdc4694d692025-08-20T03:46:12ZengNature Portfolionpj Systems Biology and Applications2056-71892025-07-011111910.1038/s41540-025-00535-9Modeling the metabolic response of A2780 ovarian cancer cells to gold-based cytotoxic drugsWalter Vieri0Veronica Ghini1Paola Turano2Lara Massai3Luigi Messori4Marco Fondi5Department of Biology, University of FlorenceDepartment of Chemistry, University of FlorenceDepartment of Chemistry, University of FlorenceDepartment of Chemistry, University of FlorenceDepartment of Chemistry, University of FlorenceDepartment of Biology, University of FlorenceAbstract Gold compounds are a promising class of experimental anticancer metallodrugs. Unlike platinum-based drugs, their antiproliferative effects are thought to result mainly from modulation of cancer cell metabolism rather than direct interaction with DNA. Previous NMR studies have shown that four cytotoxic gold compounds - auranofin, aurothiomalate and two gold N-heterocyclic carbenes - induce distinct metabolic changes in A2780 ovarian cancer cells, suggesting the occurrence of different mechanisms of action. To better understand these effects, we constructed a genome-scale metabolic model (GEM) of A2780 cells to analyze the NMR-detected metabolomic changes. The model successfully predicts the diverse metabolic responses induced by each gold compound and identifies common metabolic changes. These results confirm the potential of GEMs as a powerful tool for interpreting and predicting cellular responses to gold-based drugs, providing insights into their mechanisms of action and potential therapeutic applications.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41540-025-00535-9
spellingShingle Walter Vieri
Veronica Ghini
Paola Turano
Lara Massai
Luigi Messori
Marco Fondi
Modeling the metabolic response of A2780 ovarian cancer cells to gold-based cytotoxic drugs
npj Systems Biology and Applications
title Modeling the metabolic response of A2780 ovarian cancer cells to gold-based cytotoxic drugs
title_full Modeling the metabolic response of A2780 ovarian cancer cells to gold-based cytotoxic drugs
title_fullStr Modeling the metabolic response of A2780 ovarian cancer cells to gold-based cytotoxic drugs
title_full_unstemmed Modeling the metabolic response of A2780 ovarian cancer cells to gold-based cytotoxic drugs
title_short Modeling the metabolic response of A2780 ovarian cancer cells to gold-based cytotoxic drugs
title_sort modeling the metabolic response of a2780 ovarian cancer cells to gold based cytotoxic drugs
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41540-025-00535-9
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