Progress in Copper Complexes as Anticancer Agents

Abstract

The clinical success of cisplatin has stimulated the quest for novel anticancer metallodrugs during the last two decades. A major emphasis has been put on copper due to its selective cytotoxicity toward malignant cells. This selectivity stems from the hypoxic environment of cancer cells that promotes the reduction of Cu(II) to Cu(I), leading a pro-apoptotic oxidative stress. At the current time, two copper complexes have reached clinical assay, which paves the road to the first copper-based anticancer therapeutics.