Targeting chemotherapy-resistant tumour sub-populations using inorganic chemistry: Anti-cancer stem cell metal complexes

Joshua Northcote-Smith; Kogularamanan Suntharalingam

doi:10.1016/j.cbpa.2022.102237

Targeting chemotherapy-resistant tumour sub-populations using inorganic chemistry: Anti-cancer stem cell metal complexes

Curr Opin Chem Biol. 2023 Feb:72:102237. doi: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2022.102237. Epub 2022 Dec 19.

Authors

Joshua Northcote-Smith¹, Kogularamanan Suntharalingam²

Affiliations

¹ School of Chemistry, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
² School of Chemistry, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK. Electronic address: k.suntharalingam@leicester.ac.uk.

PMID: 36542889
DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2022.102237

Abstract

Cancer stem cells (CSC) are a sub-population of tumours linked to metastasis and relapse. Current chemotherapeutic drug options are ineffective against CSCs at their administered doses. New families of cytotoxic agents, and new, highly specific ways of delivering them to CSCs, are needed to provide durable clinical outcomes. Inorganic compounds have recently emerged as a promising class of anti-CSC agents with clinically relevant potencies. In this short review, we present the very latest efforts (post-2020) on the development of anti-CSC metal complexes. The activities of the metal complexes in monolayer and three-dimensional CSC cultures and animal models is documented. The mechanism of action of the metal complexes with respect to their chemical structures is also highlighted.

Keywords: Antitumour agents; Bioinorganic chemistry; Cancer stem cells; Metallopharmaceuticals; Transition metals.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Antineoplastic Agents* / chemistry
Chemistry, Inorganic
Coordination Complexes* / chemistry
Neoplasms* / drug therapy
Neoplasms* / pathology
Neoplastic Stem Cells / pathology

Substances

Coordination Complexes
Antineoplastic Agents