title: Underestimated potential of organometallic rhenium complexes as anticancer agents.
abstract: In the recent years, organometallic compounds have become recognized as promising anti-cancer drug candidates. While radioactive (186/188)Re compounds are already used in clinics for cancer treatment, cold Re organometallic compounds have mostly been explored as luminescent probes for cell imaging and photosensitizers in photocatalysis. However, a growing number of studies have recently revealed the potential of Re organometallic complexes as anti-cancer agents. Several compounds have displayed cytotoxicity equaling or exceeding that of the well-established anti-cancer drug cisplatin. In this review, we present the currently known Re organometallic complexes that have shown anti-proliferative activity on cancer cell lines. A particular emphasis is placed on their cellular uptake and localization as well as their potential mechanism of action.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich , Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leonidova
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gasser
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012211:Rhenium / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D012211:Rhenium