title: Metal N-heterocyclic carbene complexes as potential antitumor metallodrugs.
abstract: The discovery of cisplatin's antitumor activity in 1969 prompted the search for novel metal-containing complexes as potential anticancer drugs. Among these novel complexes, metal N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes have recently gained considerable attention because they perfectly fit prerequisites for efficient drug design and fast optimization. Moreover, most of them have shown higher cytotoxicity than cisplatin. This review describes the advances that have been achieved in using transition metal (Ag, Au, Pt, Pd, Cu, Ni, and Ru) complexes containing NHC ligands as antitumor agents. Their modes of action at the cellular lever are further discussed. All these initial achievements clearly demonstrate the great potential of metal-NHC complexes as antitumor agents.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str 2+4, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Wukun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gust
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D056831:Coordination Complexes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008697:Methane / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D028561:Transition Elements / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D056831:Coordination Complexes; D028561:Transition Elements; C030011:carbene; D008697:Methane