The often severe side effects displayed by currently used platinum and ruthenium complexes have motivated researchers to design and develop transition metal-based anti-tumor agents with reduced toxicity. Distinct from organic anti-tumor drugs, transition metal complexes possess several properties that render them as promising scaffolds for anti-cancer drug discovery. While a vast number of metal complexes have been synthesized and reported to be promising and potent in vitro anticancer active compounds, fewer have shown efficacy in in vivo models. The demonstration of in vivo potency is an essential step for lead candidates for clinical trials. In this review, we highlight examples of transition metal-based complexes that have shown in vivo anti-tumor activities that have been described in recent years.

当前使用的铂和钌络合物经常表现出严重的副作用，这促使研究人员设计和开发毒性降低的过渡金属基抗肿瘤药。与有机抗肿瘤药物不同，过渡金属配合物具有多种特性，使其成为有前途的抗癌药物支架。尽管已经合成了大量金属配合物并据报道是有希望的和有效的体外抗癌活性化合物，但在体内模型中显示出功效的药物却很少。对于临床试验的主要候选人而言，体内效力的证明是必不可少的步骤。在这篇综述中，我们重点介绍了已在体内显示的基于过渡金属的配合物的实例 近年来已描述的抗肿瘤活性。