Anticancer Activity of Metal Complexes: Involvement of Redox Processes

Author(s)
Christian Kowol, Bernhard Keppler, Christian Hartinger, Walter Berger
Abstract

Cells require tight regulation of the intracellular redox balance and consequently of reactive oxygen species for proper redox signaling and maintenance of metal (e. g., of iron and copper) homeostasis. In several diseases, including cancer, this balance is disturbed. Therefore, anticancer drugs targeting the redox systems, for example, glutathione and thioredoxin, have entered focus of interest. Anticancer metal complexes (platinum, gold, arsenic, ruthenium, rhodium, copper, vanadium, cobalt, manganese, gadolinium, and molybdenum) have been shown to strongly interact with or even disturb cellular redox homeostasis. In this context, especially the hypothesis of "activation by reduction" as well as the "hard and soft acids and bases" theory with respect to coordination of metal ions to cellular ligands represent important concepts to understand the molecular modes of action of anticancer metal drugs. The aim of this review is to highlight specific interactions of metal-based anticancer drugs with the cellular redox homeostasis and to explain this behavior by considering chemical properties of the respective anticancer metal complexes currently either in (pre)clinical development or in daily clinical routine in oncology.

Organisation(s)
Department of Inorganic Chemistry
External organisation(s)
Medizinische Universität Wien
Journal
Antioxidants and Redox Signaling
Volume
15
Pages
1085-1127
No. of pages
43
ISSN
1523-0864
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1089/ars.2010.3663
Publication date
2011
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
104003 Inorganic chemistry, 301 Medical-Theoretical Sciences, Pharmacy
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/b92f83d8-fe0c-4037-b8db-3c21c4aebce5