Effects of chrysin, apigenin, genistein and their homoleptic copper(II) complexes on the growth and metastatic potential of cancer cells

Complexation of chrysin, apigenin, and genistein to Cu(II) trebles their cytotoxicity against cancer cells. While the apigenin complex destabilizes their F-actin cytoskeleton and stimulates the expression of matrix metalloproteinases, the genistein complex supports cell-cell adhesion by actin remodeling, cadherin-catenin complex formation, and a reduced expression and secretion of MMPs.