Possible DNA‐Interacting Pathways for Metal‐Based Compounds Exemplified with Copper Coordination Compounds

Abstract

Abstract Since the fortuitous discovery of the anticancer properties of cisplatin and its successful introduction in chemotherapy in 1978, numerous cytotoxic, metal‐based molecules have been increasingly reported in the literature. Due to the specific mechanism of action of cisplatin, DNA represents the main target for the design of potential metal‐containing antitumor agents. In the present microreview, the different pathways in which a metal complex can interact/degrade DNA are presented and some illustrative examples of DNA‐binding/DNA‐cleaving copper coordination compounds are described.