Use of an organometallic compound as a DNA-demethylating agent

A pharmaceutical composition comprising an organometallic compound comprising an iron atom bound to two terpyridine groups, having formula (I):

• wherein R1, R3, R4, and R6 are identical and are each hydrogen, and R2 and R5 are identical and designate a pyridine radical of following formula (VIII):
• where the dotted line represents a C—C bond between the carbon carried by the pyridine radical and the carbon carried by the terpyridine group of the organometallic compound of formula (I);
• X− is a counterion;
• and
• a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

A method for treatment of cancers selected from glioblastomas, breast cancer, head and neck cancer or pancreatic cancer, comprising administering an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition to a subject in need thereof,

• said pharmaceutical composition comprising an organometallic compound comprising an iron atom bound to two terpyridine groups, having formula (I):
• wherein:
• R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6, are identical or different and are each independently selected from the group consisting of:
• a hydrogen atom;
• and an aromatic cycle selected from the formula (II) below:
• where
• each Y in formula (II) is independently a CH group or a nitrogen atom;
• the dotted line represents a C—C bond at the level of the connection point of the aromatic cycle of formula (II) to the terpyridine groups of the organometallic compound of formula (I);
• X− is a counterion;
• and
• a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.