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Emerging therapeutic strategies for triple-negative breast cancer using ruthenium, iridium, and rhenium complexes
1Department of Chemistry, School of Advanced Sciences, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore-632014, Tamilnadu, India. priyankar.paira@vit.ac.in.
Abstract:
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive disease with limited treatment options due to the absence of ER, PR, and HER2 receptors. This review summarises the recent progress in the use of ruthenium, iridium, and rhenium complexes as alternative therapeutic agents for TNBC. These metal complexes are designed to respond to tumor-specific biomarkers or the tumor microenvironment, enabling selective uptake and enhanced anticancer activity. Through redox reactions and light activation, they generate reactive oxygen species, disrupt mitochondrial function, and induce cancer cell death. Overall, ruthenium, iridium, and rhenium complexes offer a multi-mechanistic and targeted approach that may help overcome resistance and improve future TNBC treatment strategies.
Insights
Ruthenium, iridium, and rhenium complexes show promise for treating triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). These targeted metal agents activate cancer cell death via redox reactions and light, offering new therapeutic strategies for this aggressive disease.
Area of Science:
- Medicinal inorganic chemistry
- Oncology
- Nanomedicine
Background:
- Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) lacks targeted therapy due to absent ER, PR, and HER2 receptors.
- Existing treatments for TNBC are limited, necessitating novel therapeutic approaches.
- Metal complexes offer unique properties for targeted cancer treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in using ruthenium, iridium, and rhenium complexes for TNBC treatment.
- To highlight the mechanisms of action for these metal-based therapeutic agents.
- To assess the potential of these complexes in overcoming TNBC treatment resistance.
Main Methods:
- Review of literature on ruthenium, iridium, and rhenium complexes in TNBC research.
- Analysis of targeted delivery mechanisms based on tumor biomarkers and microenvironment.
- Examination of redox-active and photoactivatable properties of metal complexes.
- Investigation of reactive oxygen species generation and mitochondrial dysfunction induction.
Main Results:
- Metal complexes demonstrate selective uptake in tumor cells.
- Mechanisms include redox modulation, light activation, ROS generation, and mitochondrial disruption.
- These agents induce significant cancer cell death in preclinical models.
- Targeted approaches show potential to overcome treatment resistance.
Conclusions:
- Ruthenium, iridium, and rhenium complexes represent a promising class of agents for TNBC therapy.
- Their multi-mechanistic and targeted nature offers advantages over conventional treatments.
- Further research may lead to improved therapeutic strategies for TNBC patients.
