doi:10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2016.11.009engSánchez-de-Diego, C.Mármol, I.Pérez, R.Gascón, S.Rodriguez-Yoldi, M.Cerrada, E.The anticancer effect related to disturbances in redox balance on Caco-2 cells caused by an alkynyl gold(I) complexART-2017-97109The alkynyl gold(I) derivative Au(C=CPh)(PTA)] (PTA = 1, 3, 5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane) induces apoptosis in colorectal carcinoma tumour cells (Caco-2) without affecting to normal enterocytes. Au(C=CPh)(PTA)] is a slight lipophilic drug, stable in PBS (Phosphate Buffered Saline) and able to bind BSA (Bovin Serum Albumin) by hydrophobic interactions. Once inside the cell, Au(C=CPh)(PTA)] targets seleno proteins such as Thioredoxin Reductase 1, increasing ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) levels, reducing cell viability and proliferation and inducing mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic protein imbalance, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, cytochrome c release and activation of caspases 9 and 3. Moreover, unlike other metal-based drugs such as cisplatin, Au(C=CPh)(PTA)] does not target nucleic acid, reducing the risk of side mutation in the DNA. In consequence, our results predict a promising future for Au(C=CPh)(PTA)] as a chemotherapeutic agent for colorectal carcinoma.2017http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/7068710.1016/j.jinorgbio.2016.11.009http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/70687oai:zaguan.unizar.es:70687info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/DGA/A32info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/DGA/E104info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/ISCIII/CB06-03-1012info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MINECO-FEDER/CTQ2013-48635-C2-1-Pinfo:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MINECO/SAF2013-41651-RJOURNAL OF INORGANIC BIOCHEMISTRY 166 (2017), 108-121by-nc-ndhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/es/info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess