A platinum(II) complex with the antiviral drug acyclovir was synthesized and its
antiviral and anticancer properties were investigated in comparison to those of acyclovir and
cisplatin. The platinum-acyclovir complex maintained the antiviral activity of the parent
drug acyclovir, though showing a minor efficacy on a molar basis (ID50 = 7.85 and 1.02 μΜ
for platinum-acyclovir and cisplatin, respectively). As anticancer agent, the platinum-acyclovir
complex was markedly less potent than cisplatin on a mole-equivalent basis, but it
was as effective as cisplatin when equitoxic dosages were administered in vivo to P388
leukaemia-bearing mice (%T/C = 209 and 211 for platinum-acyclovir and cisplatin,
respectively). The platinum-acyclovir complex was also active against a cisplatin-resistant
subline of the P388 leukaemia (%T/C = 140), thus suggesting a different mechanism of
action. The DNA interaction properties (sequence specificity and interstrand cross-linking
ability) of platinum-acyclovir were also investigated in comparison to those of cisplatin and
[Pt(dien)Cl]+, an antitumour-inactive platinum-triamine compound. The results of this study
point to a potential new drug endowed, at the same time, with antiviral and anticancer
activity and characterized by DNA interaction properties different from those of cisplatin.
