Rising Interest in the Development of Metal Complexes in Cancer Immunotherapy

Zhi-Yuan Li1, Qing-Hua Shen1, Zong-Wan Mao1

  • 1MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, P. R. China.

Metal complexes have shown great potential in cancer immunotherapy. This review briefly introduces the basic concepts and strategies of cancer immunotherapy and summarizes the recent discoveries on the immune effects of traditional platinum-based anticancer compounds. In addition, we also outline the latest research progresses on metal complexes for cancer immunotherapy focusing on platinum, ruthenium, iridium, rhenium and copper complexes. Finally, the research perspectives and unsolved problems on the applications of metallo-anticancer agents in cancer immunotherapy are purposed.

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