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Updated: Jan 16, 2026

Amide Coupling Reaction for the Synthesis of Bispyridine-based Ligands and Their Complexation to Platinum as Dinuclear Anticancer Agents
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The Role of Metallodrugs in Enhancing Neuroendocrine Neoplasm Therapies: The Promising Anticancer Potential of

Erika Stefàno1, Federica De Castro1, Asjad Ali1

  • 1Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA), University of Salento, Via Monteroni, I-73100 Lecce, Italy.

Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
|September 27, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Ruthenium compounds show promise for treating neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs), offering potential alternatives to platinum drugs. Research highlights their antitumor and antimetastatic activities, with some agents entering clinical trials.

Area of Science:

  • Inorganic chemistry
  • Oncology
  • Medicinal chemistry

Background:

  • Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are a diverse group of tumors originating from endocrine and nervous system cells.
  • Platinum-based chemotherapy, including cisplatin, is the standard first-line treatment for NENs.
  • Existing platinum agents can cause significant side effects, driving research for alternatives.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the potential of ruthenium (Ru) compounds as novel chemotherapeutics for NENs.
  • To highlight the antineoplastic and antimetastastatic activities of Ru-based complexes.
  • To discuss the interaction of Ru compounds with new therapeutic targets in NEN treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Review of scientific literature on metallodrugs and NEN therapy.
  • Focus on ruthenium complexes as emerging chemotherapeutic agents.
  • Analysis of preclinical and clinical data for selected Ru compounds.

Main Results:

  • Ruthenium complexes exhibit significant antineoplastic and antimetastatic properties.
  • Certain Ru compounds, such as IT-139, have demonstrated efficacy in preclinical studies and entered clinical trials.
  • Ru compounds offer a potential strategy to overcome resistance and reduce side effects associated with platinum drugs.

Conclusions:

  • Ruthenium-based compounds represent a promising avenue for NEN treatment.
  • Further investigation into Ru compounds could lead to novel therapeutic strategies for NENs.
  • Targeting new pathways with Ru complexes may enhance treatment outcomes for NEN patients.
Keywords:
IT-139 (KP-1339 or NKP1339)medicinal inorganic chemistrymetallodrugsneuroendocrine neoplasmsplatinum-based chemotherapyruthenium-based complexes

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