Recent Advancements in Organotin(IV) Complexes as Potent Cytotoxic Agents

Cancer cases have escalated by approximately 12% since 1900 and the incidence rate has increased faster for females than males. The discovery of cisplatin in 1965 paved the way for metal-based compounds as cancer therapeutics. Unfortunately, cisplatin and other platinum-based medicines cause severe side effects. Therefore, non-platinum metal complexes have been developed as alternate cancer drugs. Among non-platinum metal complexes, organotins are the most effective candidates in oncology due to their wide range of anticancer activities with relatively minimal toxicities towards healthy cells, better excretion from the body, and fewer side effects than platinum drugs.

Using DOI searching, advances made by organotin(IV) complexes coordinated with Sn-O, Sn-N and Sn-S as chemotherapeutic agents since 2018 are summarized in this article. Their chemical structure and in vitro antiproliferative activity in terms of IC₅₀/EC₅₀/LD₅₀ are cumulated.

As reflected in this perspective, organotin(IV) complexes are found to induce high cell death via apoptosis, and also several complexes demonstrated anticancer activity even higher than standard drugs.

Undoubtedly, the organotin(IV) complexes could bring hope to morbidity and mortality of human beings caused by fast-spreading cancer worldwide and can play an important role in drug discovery.