title: Development of anticancer agents: wizardry with osmium.
abstract: Platinum compounds are one of the pillars of modern cancer chemotherapy. The apparent disadvantages of existing chemotherapeutics have led to the development of novel anticancer agents with alternative modes of action. Many complexes of the heavy metal osmium (Os) are potent growth inhibitors of human cancer cells and are active in vivo, often superior or comparable to cisplatin, as the benchmark metal-based anticancer agent, or clinically tested ruthenium (Ru) drug candidates. Depending on the choice of ligand system, osmium compounds exhibit diverse modes of action, including redox activation, DNA targeting or inhibition of protein kinases. In this review, we highlight recent advances in the development of osmium anticancer drug candidates and discuss their cellular mechanisms of action.
authors: School of Chemical Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand. Electronic address: m.hanif@auckland.ac.nz.
authors: Muhammad
authors: M
authors: Hanif
authors: School of Chemical Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.
authors: Maria V
authors: MV
authors: Babak
authors: School of Chemical Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand. Electronic address: c.hartinger@auckland.ac.nz.
authors: Christian G
authors: CG
authors: Hartinger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis; D056831:Coordination Complexes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004247:DNA; D059865:Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress; D006801:Humans; D008870:Microtubules; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009992:Osmium / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D056831:Coordination Complexes; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D009992:Osmium; D004247:DNA