{
  "abstract": "Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common subtype of aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and remains a clinical challenge in patients with relapsed/refractory disease, despite treatment with lenalidomide- or oxaliplatin-based regimens. Herein, we report on the development of new tailored organometallic complexes evaluated against DLBCL cells as single agents and in combination with lenalidomide. The tailored diiron(I) complexes [Fe2Cp2(CO)(µ-CO){µ-η1:η3-C(R’)CHC=NMe(Ind)}]CF3SO3 [R’ = n-pentyl, 2a; R’ = SiMe3, 2b; Cp = h5-C5H5, Ind = 5-(1H-indolyl)] were synthesized in 69-88% yields, and fully characterized by elemental analysis, IR and NMR spectroscopy and, for 2a, by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The complexes showed adequate aqueous solubility (≈ 10-4 M), balanced hydrophilic/lipophilic character (Log Pow = 0.73 and 0.31) and significant stability in aqueous media, with 90–93% and 73–81% of 2a and 2b, respectively, remaining intact after 72 h in D2O/DMSO-d6 and DMEM-d/DMSO-d6 mixtures at 37 °C. Complexes 2a-b strongly inhibited cell proliferation in SU-DHL10, OCI-LY3 and Toledo DLBCL cell lines after 72 h of exposure; 2a and 2b were substantially more potent than oxaliplatin and lenalidomide, particularly in SU-DHL10 and OCI-LY3 cells, with IC50 values up to 22-fold lower than those of oxaliplatin. Combined treatment with lenalidomide and the diiron complexes, particularly 2a, resulted in strong synergism across almost the entire range of affected fractions (combination index < 1) and dose reduction indices as high as 347 in OCI-LY3 cells. Overall, these findings identify an emerging class of organo-diiron complexes as promising candidates for combination-based therapeutic strategies against DLBCL, warranting further preclinical investigation.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Via G. Moruzzi 13, Pisa, Italy, I-56124",
    "School of Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 55, Pisa, Italy, I-56126",
    "Department of Industrial Chemistry “Toso Montanari, University of Bologna, Via P. Gobetti 85, Bologna, Italy, I-40129"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 8,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Sara Benetti"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Marta Banchi"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Lorenzo Biancalana"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Alessio Isolani"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Stefano Zacchini"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Guido Bocci"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Fabio Marchetti"
    },
    {
      "name": "FABIO MARCHETTI",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-3683-8708"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/c2czsknjmdv9g.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.26434/chemrxiv.15008129/v1",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "c2czsknjmdv9g",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.26434/chemrxiv.15008129/v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2730|Metal complexes synthesis and properties"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7204957367",
  "pdf_url": "https://chemrxiv.org/doi/pdf/10.26434/chemrxiv.15008129/v1",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-08-31",
  "publisher": "American Chemical Society (ACS)",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/c2czsknjmdv9g.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:17Z",
      "native_id": "10.26434/chemrxiv.15008129",
      "source": "chemrxiv",
      "url": "https://chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.26434/chemrxiv.15008129/v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2730|Metal complexes synthesis and properties",
      "subfield": "oncology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Diiron Complexes Display Potent Antiproliferative Activity and Synergize with Lenalidomide in Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma",
  "title_text": "Diiron Complexes Display Potent Antiproliferative Activity and Synergize with Lenalidomide in Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:17Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/c2czsknjmdv9g",
  "venue": "ChemRxiv",
  "versions": []
}