A novel platinum(IV) prodrug, gramine-Pt(IV) enhances chemoimmunotherapy by activating cGAS-STING and modulating TGF-β-MHC-I axis

Platinum(II) (Pt(II)) drugs, such as cisplatin and oxaliplatin, played critical roles in cancer therapy; however, their efficacy is often limited by significant toxicity and the development of drug resistance. Recently, multi-target platinum(IV) (Pt(IV)) complexes, particularly those optimized with axial ligands, have emerged as promising alternatives enhancing tumor selectivity and drug stability. In this study, we synthesized a series of novel platinum(IV) prodrugs, gramine-platinum(IV), by incorporating gramine—a natural indole alkaloid that antagonizes TGF-β receptors I and II to inhibit the TGF-β signaling pathway—as an axial ligand. Among them, compound 8 (referred to as GP) was screened out to have the best antitumor activity. GP not only enhances the therapeutic efficacy of platinum(II) drugs but also targets TGF-β signaling. Our findings demonstrate that GP rapidly enters cells and preferentially accumulates in critical subcellular compartments, such as the nucleus and mitochondria, significantly amplifying its therapeutic impact. Notably, GP exhibits great tumor accumulation compared to cisplatin and oxaliplatin, with minimal uptake in normal tissues, highlighting its superior tumor specificity with reduced systemic toxicity. This unique characteristic enables GP to enhance therapeutic efficiency through multiple modalities, including strengthening DNA damage, reducing mitochondrial membrane potential, promoting apoptosis, and arresting cell cycle in the S phase. Moreover, GP activates the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling (cGAS-STING) pathway, enhancing antigen presentation and fostering robust anti-tumor immune responses. In mouse models of pancreatic and breast cancer, GP significantly inhibits tumor growth and triggers strong innate immune activation. By combining GP with anti-PD-1 therapy, immunotherapy-resistant tumors are rendered responsive, leading to a pronounced suppression of tumor growth. Overall, GP not only amplifies the DNA-damaging effects of platinum(II) drugs but also elicits durable immune responses, establishing itself as a promising chemo-immune-combined strategy for treating pancreatic and breast cancers.