Metals and Metal Derivatives in Medicine

Abstract

Several chemical elements are required by living organisms in addition to the four elements carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen usually present in common organic molecules. Many metals (e.g. sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, chromium, molybdenum and selenium) are known to be required for normal biological functions in humans. Disorders of metal homeostasis and of metal bioavailability, or toxicity caused by metal excess, are responsible for a large number of human diseases. Metals are also extensively used in medicine as therapeutic and/or diagnostic agents. In the past 5000 years, metals such as arsenic, gold and iron have been used to treat a variety of human diseases. Nowadays, an ever-increasing number of metal-based drugs is available. These contain a broad spectrum of metals, many of which are not among those essential for humans, able to target proteins and/or DNA. This mini-review describes metal-containing compounds targeting DNA or proteins currently in use, or designed to be used, as therapeutics against cancer, arthritis, parasitic and other diseases, with a special focus on the available information, often provided by X-ray studies, about their mechanism of action at a molecular level. In addition, an overview of metal complexes used for diagnosing diseases is presented.

Targeting increased copper levels in diethylnitrosamine induced hepatocellular carcinoma cells in rats by epigallocatechin-3-gallate

“…Therefore, the interest in anticancer research has moved to curing of cancer on the biochemistry/metabolism of cancer cells. In this context, our studies assume considerable significance as they provide a basis for designing novel anticancer compounds based on targeting copper levels in cancer cells [44][45][46].…”

Clinical and pathogenetic role of endogenous and exogenous metals in gonocoxarthrosis, contained in the prosthetic knee and hip joints

“…ГКА супроводжується мікроелементозом із порушенням в організмі рівнів Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Zn та інших металів [5]. В артикулярному хрящі зростає вміст Cu, а рівні в субхондральній кістці Mo, Ni, Pb і Zn або не змінюються, або зменшуються [6].…”

Redox Activation as Strategy for the Development of New Drugs Applied to the Cancer Treatment

“…45 Enquanto 43 pode inibir as metaloproteinases de matriz (MMPs) e prevenir a invasão de tumores em tecidos próximos, 44 tem mostrado atividade anticâncer promissora. 45,49,50 A cinética e o mecanismo para a possível ativação de 43, através do 2-mercapoetano sulfonato de sódio (MESNA) foi reportada recentemente na literatura. 51 Os alvos desses compostos ainda não foram descobertos, porém sabe-se que adutos com o DNA podem ser formados e que o efeito da hipóxia aumenta a toxicidade de certos agentes antitumorais.…”