Silver carbene complexes: An emerging class of anticancer agents

Shravankumar Kankala1, Niranjan Thota2, Fredrik Björkling2

  • 1Department of Chemistry, Kakatiya University, Warangal, Telangana State, India.

Drug Development Research
|November 3, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Silver N-heterocyclic carbene complexes (SCCs) show promise as novel anticancer agents, targeting multiple pathways in cancer cells. Further research is needed to clarify their precise molecular mechanisms for effective cancer therapy development.

Area of Science:

  • Organometallic chemistry
  • Cancer biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Cancer presents significant therapeutic challenges, particularly for relapsed and refractory cases.
  • Novel treatment strategies are crucial for improving patient outcomes.
  • Organometallic compounds are emerging as potential antineoplastic agents.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the anticancer efficacy of silver N-heterocyclic carbene complexes (SCCs).
  • To explore the potential molecular targets and mechanisms of action of SCCs.
  • To discuss the application of SCCs in cancer therapy.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on silver N-heterocyclic carbene complexes (SCCs).
  • Analysis of in vitro cancer model systems treated with SCCs.
  • Discussion of SCCs chemistry and potential therapeutic applications.

Main Results:

  • SCCs demonstrate anticancer efficacy across various in vitro cancer models.
  • SCCs target multiple signaling pathways involved in cancer progression.
  • The precise molecular mechanisms underlying SCCs' anticancer properties require further elucidation.

Conclusions:

  • Silver N-heterocyclic carbene complexes (SCCs) represent a promising class of compounds for cancer treatment.
  • Understanding the molecular mechanisms of SCCs is essential for their clinical translation.
  • SCCs hold potential for developing novel therapeutic strategies against challenging cancers.

Related Concept Videos

Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class II Agents as β-Adrenergic Blockers01:24

Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class II Agents as β-Adrenergic Blockers

Adrenergic stimulation generally impacts cardiac rate and rhythm. Specifically, stimulation of the β-adrenoceptors triggers an increase in intracellular calcium ion influx and pacemaker currents, which may cause arrhythmias. Catecholamines like adrenaline also demonstrate β2-adrenoceptor-mediated hypokalemia, impacting cardiac action potential and disrupting the normal cardiac rhythm. Class II antiarrhythmic drugs are β-adrenoceptor antagonists or β-blockers, which...
1.6K
Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class I Agents as Sodium Channel Blockers01:22

Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class I Agents as Sodium Channel Blockers

Class I antiarrhythmic drugs are used to treat various types of arrhythmias or irregular heart rhythms. These drugs block the sodium (Na+) channels in the cardiac cells, thereby affecting the movement of electrical impulses across the heart. Class I antiarrhythmic drugs are divided into three subgroups: Class IA, Class IB, and Class IC, each with distinct mechanisms of action and effects on the heart.
Class 1A Antiarrhythmic Drugs: These drugs work by moderately blocking sodium channels,...
3.0K
Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class III Agents as Potassium Channel Blockers01:12

Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class III Agents as Potassium Channel Blockers

Class III antiarrhythmic drugs are a group of medications that can prolong action potentials in the heart. They achieve this by blocking potassium channels or enhancing inward currents from sodium channels. However, these drugs have a unique property of "reverse use-dependence," which is most pronounced at slower heart rates and can lead to torsades de pointes—a specific type of arrhythmia. However, it is essential to note that excessive QT interval prolongation—a measure of...
2.1K
Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class IV Agents as Calcium Channel Blockers01:20

Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class IV Agents as Calcium Channel Blockers

Class IV antiarrhythmic drugs, such as verapamil and diltiazem, block calcium channels. They primarily affect the heart, slowing the conduction in calcium-dependent tissues like the SA and AV nodes. These drugs manage reentrant supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) and reduce ventricular rate in atrial flutter/fibrillation.
Verapamil, a calcium channel blocker, inhibits calcium movement across myocardial cell membranes and vascular smooth muscle. This results in the dilation of coronary and...
1.8K
Emerging Adulthood01:27

Emerging Adulthood

Jeffrey Arnett's concept of emerging adulthood offers a framework to understand the unique developmental stage between adolescence and full-fledged adulthood, generally from ages 18 to 25. This period is marked by extensive exploration and shifts in identity, relationships, and career choices, a process known in psychology as role experimentation. Emerging adulthood reflects the evolving cultural expectations surrounding adulthood and the dynamic process of personal transformation during...
688
Formation of Complex Ions03:45

Formation of Complex Ions

A type of Lewis acid-base chemistry involves the formation of a complex ion (or a coordination complex) comprising a central atom, typically a transition metal cation, surrounded by ions or molecules called ligands. These ligands can be neutral molecules like H2O or NH3, or ions such as CN− or OH−. Often, the ligands act as Lewis bases, donating a pair of electrons to the central atom. These types of Lewis acid-base reactions are examples of a broad subdiscipline called coordination...
26.1K