Metal complexes in cancer therapy – an update from drug design perspective

Title	Metal complexes in cancer therapy – an update from drug design perspective
Authors	Umar Ndagi, Ndumiso Mhlongo, Mahmoud E Soliman
Magazine	Drug Design, Development and Therapy
Date	03/03/2017
DOI	10.2147/DDDT.S119488
Introduction	Historically, metal-based compounds were extensively applied in treating various diseases, but differentiating therapeutic and toxic doses posed significant challenges. The introduction of cisplatin by Barnett Rosenberg in 1960 marked a pivotal moment for metal-based cancer treatments, establishing the groundwork for contemporary metal-based anticancer drugs. Platinum-based drugs such as cisplatin, carboplatin, and oxaliplatin dominate cancer treatment; however, the slower development of other metal-based compounds has hindered research progress. Recently, efforts have intensified to enhance and create novel metal-based compounds and nonclassical platinum complexes with unique mechanisms of action distinct from traditional drugs such as cisplatin. Numerous compounds have been synthesised by altering existing chemical structures or constructing entirely new compounds with improved safety and cytotoxic profiles. Due to the increased focus on the clinical significance of metal-based complexes, a few are undergoing clinical trials, with more awaiting ethical approval. This review aims to provide an overview of past studies on the cytotoxic effects of metal-based complexes, highlighting newly designed complexes and their impact on cancer cell lines, as well as innovative approaches to metal-based drug design and molecular targets in cancer therapy. We remain hopeful that selective targeting represents the future in developing therapies that specifically target cancer cells while sparing healthy cells.
Quote	Umar Ndagi, Ndumiso Mhlongo and Mahmoud E Soliman. Metal complexes in cancer therapy – an update from drug design perspective. Drug Des Devel Ther. 2017. Vol. 11:599-616. DOI: 10.2147/DDDT.S119488
Element	Platinum (Pt)
Topics	Biomedical Materials