Inorganic Anticancer Agents: Their Chemistry and Antitumor Properties

Abstract

In the last two decades, the development of new tumor-inhibiting metal complexes has received increasing attention owing to the successful therapy of testicular carcinomas with cisplatin. Here, a short overview is presented with special consideration of platinum compounds and of two new substances: a titanium complex, cis-diethoxy-bis(1-phenylbutane-1,3-dionato)titanium(IV) (budotitane, International Nonproprietary Name), and a ruthenium complex, trans-HInd[RuCl₄(ind)₂]. Some aspects of the mode of action of cisplatin, the first metal complex in cancer therapy, are summarized in this article because it provides a background for all subsequent investigations. Activation and activated species, binding to and transport by plasma proteins, DNA interactions and the formation of metal-nucleotide adducts are chemical aspects discussed in the context of a new generation of tumor-inhibiting metal complexes.

Key Words:

• cancer therapy
• drug targeting
• tumor-inhibiting metal complexes
• cisplatin
• budotitane
• trans-indazolium-tetrachlorobis(indazole)ruthenate(III)