Ricerc@Sapienza

Oxidative stress (OS) is associated with many diseases ranging from cancer to neurodegenerative disorders. Nuclear factor-erythroid 2 p45-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is one of the most effective cytoprotective controller against OS. Modulation of Nrf2 pathway constitutes a remarkable strategy in the antineoplastic treatments. A big number of Nrf2-antioxidant response element activators have been screened for use as chemo-preventive drugs in OS associated diseases like cancer even though activation of Nrf2 happens in a variety of cancers.

Cisplatin and transplatin (cis- and trans-[PtCl2(NH3)2]) have been allowed to react with methionine (Met)
in water solution in a study aimed to characterize the monofunctional complex primarily formed. The
thioether function of methionine is known to have a very high affinity for square planar platinum(II) and
sulfur-containing biomolecules have been proposed as a cisplatin drug reservoir on the way to
platination at DNA. Both cisplatin and transplatin yield [PtCl(NH3)2Met]+ complexes, delivered by