Recent development of transition metal complexes with in vivo antitumor activity

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.