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.
