Recent Advances in Metal-based Drugs in Cancer Therapy

The distinctive attributes of metals, for example, their redox activity, varied coordination modes, and reactivity against biomolecules have drawn a lot of attention to the therapeutic potential of metal complexes against various diseases. These characteristics make them a desirable probe for the development of metallodrugs that bind to the targeted biomolecules selectively and change the cellular mechanism of proliferation. Metal-based drugs have appeared as propitious candidates for cancer treatment attributable to their exceptional structural features and versatile modes of action. Recently, a substantial advancement has been made in the development of metal-based compounds with enhanced effectiveness and reduced toxicity profiles. Numerous metallodrugs have been assessed both in vitro and in vivo, with a few even progressing to clinical trials. Nevertheless, it is still challenging to find novel chemical formulations and therapeutic approaches that can specifically target cancer cells while sparing healthy cells. For many types of cancer, there are still few treatment choices available, despite advancements that have been directed to the design of novel therapeutics. This review article provides an outline of the up-to-date advancements in the field of metallodrugs for cancer treatment.