Abstract

In this review paper we aim at giving a detailed overview on our research work devoted to the design of gold-based anticancer agents. In particular, during the last decade, we have been developing some gold(III)-dithiocarbamato derivates showing outstanding in vitro and in vivo antitumor properties and reduced, or even no, systemic and renal toxicity, compared to the reference clinically-established anticancer drug cisplatin. Starting from the rationale behind our investigations, we here summarize the results achieved so far, focusing on the latest in-depth mechanistic studies that have recently provided insights into their mechanism of action, thus opening up new prospects for further pharmacological testing and, hopefully, to enter clinical trials.

Keywords: Anticancer drug, Dithiocarbamate, Gold compounds, Metallodrug, Nephrotoxicity, Proteasome inhibitor, Reactive oxygen species (ROS), Thioredoxin reductase (TrxR)