The gold complex auranofin sensitizes platinum resistant epithelial ovarian cancer cells to cisplatin

Although numerous drugs have been tested to treat ovarian cancer (OC), survival rates remain low as there has been no major improvement from platinum (Pt)-based therapy and there is a high rate of Pt resistance in these tumors. Following several rounds of chemotherapy, OC cells develop Pt-resistance by increasing DNA repair and antioxidant defense mechanisms. This study aimed to design a treatment to combat recurrent stages of OC by repurposing the anti-rheumatic gold complex auranofin (AF). We demonstrate that AF enhances the efficacy of cisplatin (CDDP) in Pt-resistant epithelial OC (EOC) cells. The drug combination enhanced mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis, PARP cleavage, DNA damage, and ROS overproduction. These results suggest the potential to combine AF with CDDP as a strategy to improve CDDP sensitivity in recurrent EOCs.