Abstract
Metals are essential cellular components selected by nature to function in several indispensable biochemical processes for living organisms. Metals are endowed with unique characteristics that include redox activity, variable coordination modes, and reactivity towards organic substrates. Due to their reactivity, metals are tightly regulated under normal conditions and aberrant metal ion concentrations are associated with various pathological disorders, including cancer. For these reasons, coordination complexes, either as drugs or prodrugs, become very attractive probes as potential anticancer agents. The use of metals and their salts for medicinal purposes, from iatrochemistry to modern day, has been present throughout human history. The discovery of cisplatin, cis-[PtII(NH3)2Cl2], was a defining moment which triggered the interest in platinum(II)- and other metal-containing complexes as potential novel anticancer drugs. Other interests in this field address concerns for uptake, toxicity, and resistance to metallodrugs. This review article highlights selected metals that have gained considerable interest in both the development and the treatment of cancer. For example, copper is enriched in various human cancer tissues and is a co-factor essential for tumor angiogenesis processes. However the use of copper-binding ligands to target tumor copper could provide a novel strategy for cancer selective treatment. The use of nonessential metals as probes to target molecular pathways as anticancer agents is also emphasized. Finally, based on the interface between molecular biology and bioinorganic chemistry the design of coordination complexes for cancer treatment is reviewed and design strategies and mechanisms of action are discussed.
Keywords: Cancer, metal, zinc, copper, platinum, metal complex, DNA, proteasome
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title: Novel Metals and Metal Complexes as Platforms for Cancer Therapy
Volume: 16 Issue: 16
Author(s): Michael Frezza, Sarmad Hindo, Di Chen, Andrew Davenport, Sara Schmitt, Dajena Tomco and Q. Ping Dou
Affiliation:
Keywords: Cancer, metal, zinc, copper, platinum, metal complex, DNA, proteasome
Abstract: Metals are essential cellular components selected by nature to function in several indispensable biochemical processes for living organisms. Metals are endowed with unique characteristics that include redox activity, variable coordination modes, and reactivity towards organic substrates. Due to their reactivity, metals are tightly regulated under normal conditions and aberrant metal ion concentrations are associated with various pathological disorders, including cancer. For these reasons, coordination complexes, either as drugs or prodrugs, become very attractive probes as potential anticancer agents. The use of metals and their salts for medicinal purposes, from iatrochemistry to modern day, has been present throughout human history. The discovery of cisplatin, cis-[PtII(NH3)2Cl2], was a defining moment which triggered the interest in platinum(II)- and other metal-containing complexes as potential novel anticancer drugs. Other interests in this field address concerns for uptake, toxicity, and resistance to metallodrugs. This review article highlights selected metals that have gained considerable interest in both the development and the treatment of cancer. For example, copper is enriched in various human cancer tissues and is a co-factor essential for tumor angiogenesis processes. However the use of copper-binding ligands to target tumor copper could provide a novel strategy for cancer selective treatment. The use of nonessential metals as probes to target molecular pathways as anticancer agents is also emphasized. Finally, based on the interface between molecular biology and bioinorganic chemistry the design of coordination complexes for cancer treatment is reviewed and design strategies and mechanisms of action are discussed.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Frezza Michael, Hindo Sarmad, Chen Di, Davenport Andrew, Schmitt Sara, Tomco Dajena and Ping Dou Q., Novel Metals and Metal Complexes as Platforms for Cancer Therapy, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2010; 16 (16) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161210791209009
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161210791209009 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Advances in the Molecular Pathogenesis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
This thematic issue will emphasize the recent breakthroughs in the mechanisms of Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) pathogenesis and devotes some understanding of both Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis. It is expected to include studies about cellular and genetic aspects, which help to precipitate the disease, and the immune system-gut microbiome relations ...read more
Blood-based biomarkers in large-scale screening for neurodegenerative diseases
Disease biomarkers are necessary tools that can be employed in several clinical context of use (COU), ranging from the (early) diagnosis, prognosis, and prediction, to monitoring of disease state and/or drug efficacy. Regarding neurodegenerative diseases, in particular Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a battery of well-validated biomarkers are available, such as cerebrospinal ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Diabetes mellitus: advances in diagnosis and treatment driving by precision medicine
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic degenerative metabolic disease with ever increasing prevalence worldwide which is now an epidemic disease affecting 500 million people worldwide. Insufficient insulin secretion from pancreatic β cells unable to maintain blood glucose homeostasis is the main feature of this disease. Multifactorial and complex nature of ...read more

- Author Guidelines
- Bentham Author Support Services (BASS)
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Current Clinical Applications of Botulinum Toxin
Current Pharmaceutical Design Plant Derived Inhibitor Sulforaphane in Combinatorial Therapy Against Therapeutically Challenging Pancreatic Cancer
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry New Issues for Copper-64: from Precursor to Innovative Pet Tracers in Clinical Oncology
Current Radiopharmaceuticals Histone Methyltransferase Inhibitors: Novel Epigenetic Agents for Cancer Treatment
Current Medicinal Chemistry Novel Methods for the Non-Invasive Administration of DNA Therapeutics and Vaccines
Current Drug Delivery Cellular Senescence-Inducing Small Molecules for Cancer Treatment
Current Cancer Drug Targets Recent Developments in Targeting Breast Cancer Stem Cells
Recent Patents on Regenerative Medicine Recent Patents in Agricultural Biotechnology; Focus on Health
Recent Patents on Food, Nutrition & Agriculture Pharmacological Effect of Berberine Chloride in Propyl Thiouracil Induced Thyroidal Dysfunction - A Time Bound Study in Female Rats
Recent Patents on Drug Delivery & Formulation Multifunctional Materials for Cancer Therapy: From Antitumoral Agents to Innovative Administration
Current Organic Chemistry Anti-cancer Effects of Curcumin on Head and Neck Cancers
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry PD1/PD-L1 Axis in Uro-oncology
Current Drug Targets Integrated Machine Learning Algorithms for Stratification of Patients with Bladder Cancer
Current Bioinformatics Thermodynamic and Kinetic Aspects Involved in the Development of Nanocarriers and Drug Delivery Systems Based on Cationic Biopolymers
Current Pharmaceutical Design Journey of 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro-5-methyl-1-β-D-arabinofuranosyluracil (FMAU): from Antiviral Drug to PET Imaging Agent
Current Medicinal Chemistry Gender Effects on Rat Metabolism of AMG 900, an Orally Available Small Molecule Aurora Kinase Inhibitor
Drug Metabolism Letters Apoptosis-inducing Plant-based Phenolic Compounds are Effective on Leukemia Cell Lines
Current Pharmaceutical Design Viral Vectors for Cancer Gene Therapy: Viral Dissemination and Tumor Targeting
Current Gene Therapy Novel Concepts in the Development of Platinum Antitumour Drugs: An Update
Medicinal Chemistry Reviews - Online (Discontinued) Harnessing the Potential of Long Non-coding RNAs to Manage Metabolic Diseases
Current Pharmaceutical Design