Cyclometalated Complexes: Promising Metallodrugs in the Battle Against Cancer.

Abstract

Metal-based treatments are an excellent alternative as drugs for oncological treatment and research. The success of cisplatin and its derivatives has been a clear example of how such compounds can play an important role in cancer therapy. However, the low selectivity, side effects, and resistance associated with this drug have led to the search for new strategies to overcome these limitations. For this reason, organometallic compounds are gaining significant attention as potential antitumor agents. Compared to platinum-based drugs, these compounds often exhibit greater stability, better lipophilicity, higher selectivity, and reduced resistance in cancer cells. This review aims to illustrate the antitumor properties of cyclometalated compounds containing metals from groups 8, 9, and 10. It will also highlight various biochemical studies that attempt to explain how these compounds can enter cells, the different molecular targets, and the types of cell death they can trigger.