Metallodrugs as Anticancer Chemotherapeutics and Diagnostic Agents: A Critical Patent Review (2010-2020)

Abstract

Background: The development of metallodrugs with potential applications in cancer treatment and diagnosis has been a hot topic since the approval and subsequent marketing of the anticancer drug cisplatin in 1978. Since then, thousands of metal-based derivatives have been reported and evaluated for their chemotherapeutic or tumor imaging properties, but only a very limited number gained clinical status. Nonetheless, research in the field has been increasing exponentially over the years, especially in a view to exploiting novel drug designing approaches and strategies aimed at improving pharmacological outcomes and, at the same time, reducing side-effects. Objective: This review article reports on the patents filed during the last decade and strictly focusing on the development of metal-based anticancer and diagnostic agents. The goal is to identify the latest trends and designing strategies in the field, which would represent a valuable starting point to researchers interested in the development of metallodrugs. Methods: The most relevant patents filed in the 2010-2020 timeframe have been retrieved from various databases using dedicated search engines (such as SciFinder, Google Patents, PatentPak, Espacenet, Global Dossier, PatentScope), sorted by type of metallodrug and screened to include those reporting a substantial amount of biological data. Results : The majority of patents here reviewed are concerned with metallodrugs (mostly platinum-based) showing interesting pharmacological properties but no specific tumor-targeting features. Nonetheless, some promising trends in the development of novel drug delivery strategies and/or metallodrugs with potential applications in targeted chemotherapy are envisaged. Conclusion: In this review, the latest trends in the development of metallodrugs from recent patents are summarized and critically discussed. Such trends would be of interest not only to the scientific community but also to lay audiences aiming to broaden their knowledge of the field and industrial stakeholders potentially interested in the exploitation and commercialization of this class of pharmaceuticals.

Implications of Protein Interaction in the Speciation of Potential VIVO–Pyridinone Drugs

“…After the serendipitous discovery of cisplatin, hundreds of metal complexes (MCs) have been proposed as potential drugs for the treatment of several diseases . Some MCs, mainly based on Pt, Ag, Au, Ru, Rh, and Ir, have been approved by US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and/or by European Medicines Agency (EMA) and are now commercially available .…”

“…After the serendipitous discovery of cisplatin, hundreds of metal complexes (MCs) have been proposed as potential drugs for the treatment of several diseases. 1 Some MCs, mainly based on Pt, Ag, Au, Ru, Rh, and Ir, have been approved by US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and/or by European Medicines Agency (EMA) and are now commercially available. 2 The major problem related to these metals is that they are relatively rare and expensive and are rather toxic for the organism, with a limitation of their use if large doses are required.…”

Ruthenium complexes bearing glucosyl ligands are able to inhibit the amyloid aggregation of short histidine-peptides

“…Metallodrugs exhibit interesting pharmacological properties mainly through the substitution processes of ligands and/or redox reactions that characterize their mechanisms of action (MOAs), even if they often result in the multi-targeting and lacking of selectivity. 1 By focusing on the early-stage phases of in vitro drug discovery, structure–activity relationship (SAR) investigations can provide crucial insights for the applications of metallodrugs and the identification of their targets. 2…”

Anticancer Activities of Re(I) Tricarbonyl and Its Imidazole-Based Ligands: Insight from a Theoretical Approach

“… 3 , 4 In recent years, investigations were carried out with the commitment of researchers and scientists to develop a new anticancer drug consisting of a range of different complexes emanating from Re, Au, Pd, Rh, Os, and Ir metal complexes. 5 − 7 The efficiency of metal-based drugs in cancer therapy cannot be underestimated, as it has recently been used in about 32 out of 78 cancer regimens. 8 Despite these spectacular attributes found in metal-based complexes, they have certain disadvantages as it causes toxic side effects and displays chemotherapeutic resistance.…”

“…This success is exemplified by the discovery of cisplatin in 1960 by Barnett Rosenberg . Significantly, it has also conceptualized the modern era of metal-based anticancer drugs, like cisplatin, carboplatin, and oxaliplatin. , In recent years, investigations were carried out with the commitment of researchers and scientists to develop a new anticancer drug consisting of a range of different complexes emanating from Re, Au, Pd, Rh, Os, and Ir metal complexes. − The efficiency of metal-based drugs in cancer therapy cannot be underestimated, as it has recently been used in about 32 out of 78 cancer regimens . Despite these spectacular attributes found in metal-based complexes, they have certain disadvantages as it causes toxic side effects and displays chemotherapeutic resistance. , Various studies on the transition metal rhenium (Re) have been conducted in recent years to develop novel anticancer agents. − Syntheses were carried out on many rhenium complexes, exploring their potential properties as an anticancer agent due to their biological activity of cytotoxicity .…”