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Redox‐Active Metal Complexes for Anticancer Therapy
Author(s) -
Zhang Pingyu,
Sadler Peter J.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
european journal of inorganic chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.667
H-Index - 136
eISSN - 1099-0682
pISSN - 1434-1948
DOI - 10.1002/ejic.201600908
Subject(s) - chemistry , redox , combinatorial chemistry , metal , prodrug , transition metal , oxidative stress , cancer therapy , cancer cell , cytotoxicity , catalysis , cancer , in vitro , biochemistry , organic chemistry , medicine
The redox properties of both metals and ligands in transition metal complexes offer unusual routes for new mechanisms of anticancer therapy. Metal complexes can introduce artificial reductive and oxidative stress into cancer cells, including behavior as photoactivatable agents and catalysts. Relatively inert metal complexes (“prodrugs”) can be activated by redox processes within cancer cells. Examples of pharmaceuticals activated by bioreduction include three Pt IV and two Ru III compounds that have already entered clinical trials. More recently, novel Co III , Fe III , Pt IV , Ru(III/II), Os II , and Ir III complexes have been reported to exhibit redox‐mediated anticancer activity. Redox activation strategies can introduce new methods to increase cancer cell selectivity and combat drug resistance. Using combination therapy together with redox modulators to increase potency is also possible. This essay focuses on metal complexes that are activated in the reducing environment of cancer cells.