Organotin(IV)‐Loaded Mesoporous Silica as a Biocompatible Strategy in Cancer Treatment

The strong therapeutic potential of an organotin(IV) compound loaded in nanostructured silica (SBA‐15pSn) is demonstrated: B16 melanoma tumor growth in syngeneic C57BL/6 mice is almost completely abolished. In contrast to apoptosis as the basic mechanism of the anticancer action of numerous chemotherapeutics, the important advantage of this SBA‐15pSn mesoporous material is the induction of cell differentiation, an effect unknown for metal‐based drugs and nanomaterials alone. This non‐aggressive mode of drug action is highly efficient against cancer cells but is in the concentration range used nontoxic for normal tissue. JNK (Jun‐amino‐terminal kinase)‐independent apoptosis accompanied by the development of the melanocyte‐like nonproliferative phenotype of survived cells indicates the extraordinary potential of SBA‐15pSn to suppress tumor growth without undesirable compensatory proliferation of malignant cells in response to neighboring cell death.