Antitumour metal compounds: more than theme and variations.
Triggered by the resounding success of cisplatin, the past decades have seen tremendous efforts to produce clinically beneficial analogues. The recent achievement of oxaliplatin for the treatment of colon cancer should, however, not belie the imbalance between a plethora of investigated complexes and a very small number of clinically approved platinum drugs. Strategies opening up new avenues are increasingly being sought using complexes of metals other than platinum such as ruthenium or gallium. Based on the chemical differences between these metals, the spectrum of molecular mechanisms of action and potential indications can be broadened substantially. Other approaches focus on complexes with tumour-targeting properties, thereby maximizing the impact on cancer cells and minimizing the problem of adverse side effects, and complexes with biologically active ligands.
Jakupec
Michael A
MA
Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Vienna, Waehringer Strasse 42, 1090 Vienna, Austria. michael.jakupec@univie.ac.at
Galanski
Mathea S
MS
Arion
Vladimir B
VB
Hartinger
Christian G
CG
Keppler
Bernhard K
BK
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005708:Gallium / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D008024:Ligands; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D005708:Gallium