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

Joshua Northcote-Smith1, Kogularamanan Suntharalingam1

  • 1School of Chemistry, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.

Current Opinion in Chemical Biology
|December 21, 2022
PubMed

Insights

New inorganic metal complexes show promise in targeting cancer stem cells (CSCs), offering a potential breakthrough against metastasis and relapse where traditional chemotherapy fails. This review highlights recent advancements in developing these potent anti-CSC agents.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology and Inorganic Chemistry
  • Focus on cancer stem cell (CSC) biology and therapeutic development.

Background:

  • Cancer stem cells (CSCs) drive tumor metastasis and relapse, evading conventional chemotherapy.
  • Existing treatments lack efficacy against CSCs, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies.
  • Inorganic compounds are emerging as potent agents against CSCs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent (post-2020) developments in anti-CSC metal complexes.
  • To document the efficacy of these complexes in various CSC models.
  • To correlate chemical structure with the mechanism of action.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies published post-2020.
  • Analysis of metal complex activity in monolayer and 3D CSC cultures.
  • Evaluation of efficacy in preclinical animal models.
  • Investigation of structure-activity relationships.

Main Results:

  • Several novel metal complexes demonstrate significant anti-CSC activity.
  • Efficacy confirmed across diverse CSC models, including 3D cultures and animal studies.
  • Mechanisms of action are being elucidated based on chemical structures.

Conclusions:

  • Metal complexes represent a promising new class of drugs against cancer stem cells.
  • Targeting CSCs with specific metal complexes could lead to improved clinical outcomes.
  • Further research into structure-activity relationships will optimize anti-CSC drug design.
Keywords:
Antitumour agentsBioinorganic chemistryCancer stem cellsMetallopharmaceuticalsTransition metals

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