Different studies about the anticancer potential of several medically used antibacterial fluoroquinolones have been established. Fluoroquinolone derivatives, like some anti-cancer drugs, such as doxorubicin, can achieve antitumor activity via poisoning of type II human DNA topoisomerases. Interestingly, structural features required for the anticancer activity of quinolones have been determined. Most of the chemical modifications required to convert antibacterially acting fluoroquinolones into their anticancer analogs were at position 7 and the carboxylic group at position 3. This review highlights the antitumor potential of fluoroquinolones in general and summarizes the chemical modifications carried out on fluoroquinolones to become anticancer agents. Moreover, the review gives a quick recap on metal ion chelates with fluoroquinolones and their substantial role in topoisomerase poisoning and antitumor potential improvement. Hence, it should be highly interesting for researchers attempting to design and synthesize novel anticancer fluoroquinolone candidates.
Keywords: DNA topoisomerase; anticancer; metal ion complexes; quinolones.
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