Metallo-Drugs: Development and Action of Anticancer Agents

Volume 18, entitled Metallo-Drugs: Development and Action of Anticancer Agents of the series Metal Ions in Life Sciences centers on biological, medicinal inorganic chemistry. The serendipitous discovery of the antitumor activity of cis-diamminodichloroplatinum(II) (cisplatin) by Barnett Rosenberg in the 1960s is a landmark in metallodrug-based chemotherapy. The success of cisplatin in the clinic, followed by oxaliplatin and carboplatin, along with their drawbacks relating mainly to resistance development and severe toxicity, initiated research on polynuclear platinum complexes and on Pt(IV) complexes as prodrugs. Furthermore, the indicated shortcomings led to the exploration of other transition and main group metal ions, among them Ru(II/III), Au(I/III), Ti(IV), V(IV/V), and Ga(III) including also the essential metal ions Fe(II/III), Cu(I/II), and Zn(II). Ionic as well as covalent and non-covalent interactions between structurally very different complexes and biomolecules like nucleic acids, proteins, and carbohydrates are studied and discussed with regard to their possible anticancer actions. Hence, MILS-18 summarizes the research at the forefront of medicinal inorganic chemistry, including studies on the next-generation, tailor-made anticancer drugs. All this and more is treated in an authoritative and timely manner in the 17 stimulating chapters of this book, written by 39 internationally recognized experts from 10 nations (from the US via Europe to China and Australia). The impact of this vibrant research area is manifested by more than 2700 references, nearly 150 illustrations (more than half in color) and several comprehensive tables. Metallo-Drugs: Development and Action of Anticancer Agents is an essential resource for scientists working in the wide range from enzymology, material sciences, analytical, organic, and inorganic biochemistry all the way through to medicine including the clinic ... not forgetting that it also provides excellent information for teaching.

• Creating a unique snapshot of current understanding on metallo-drugs.
• Providing a view on how knowledge is guiding new metallo-drug design.

Helmut and Astrid Sigel, University of Basel, Switzerland; Roland K. O. Sigel and Eva Freisinger, University of Zürich, Switzerland.

"The editors are to be congratulated for not only keeping the scientific community abreast of latest developments in this vibrant field of research but for providing an invaluable resource which will no doubt stimulate further cutting edge research in this domain. This volume will also act as an invaluable and indispensable reference source for postgraduate as well as undergraduate teaching. I cannot recommend it highly enough."
Celine J. Marmion in: Coordination Chemistry Reviews 371 (2018) 96–98

"(...) Metallo-Drugs: Development and Action of Anticancer Agents is a nice collection of articles that serves a suitable introduction to either the novice or experienced researcher in the field."
Seth M. Cohen in: Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry 186 (2018) 103

"Volume 18 of MILS is an excellent update on a vibrant field within Bioinorganic Chemistry, the role of metal species in the treatment of cancer. It reflects both the successes of metallo-drugs in the clinic, their failures and shortcomings, and at the same time also promises and hopes for improved drugs in the future. The book is, as stated by the editors, indeed an “essential resource for scientists in this field” and a valuable source for teachers of relevant Bioinorganic Chemistry courses."
Bernhard Lippert in: Inorganica Chimica Acta 479 (2018) 247–248

"(...) This volume currently represents the most up-to-date review within the field of metal-based anticancer agents. (...) A particular strength is the focus on the mechanistic studies and the biological targets, an important feature that makes it different from other reviews recently published. (...) The volume Metallo-Drugs: Development and Action of Anticancer Agents is strongly recommended not only to experienced scientists (either chemists, biologists, biochemists or pharmacologists), but also to researchers in the early stage of their career willing to gain preliminary knowledge on metallodrugs and their biological activity, so as acquire the theoretical background necessary to carry our successful research in the field."
Luca Ronconi in: Transition Metal Chemistry 43 (2018) 377–379

"This latest volume of the series on Metal Ions in Life Sciences will be a valuable addition to libraries of researchers and institutions active in cancer research, but also a helpful source for advanced teaching of the subject."
Hubert Schmidbaur in: Zeitschrift für Naturforschung B 73 (2018) 355-357