Rhenium-based cancer drugs seem to be alternative drug candidates for
platinum-based drugs in the treatment of cancer. Rhenium based anticancer compounds
have attracted several researchers due to their various properties and wide-ranging
applications as prodrug, drug conjugates, targeted delivery, imaging and cancer killing
capacities. An array of rhenium compounds displays promising cytotoxic and
phototoxic properties towards cancer cells. Re-complexes with aromatic or
heteroaromatic ligands like polypyridine complexes, octahedral and tris
(hydroxymethyl) phosphine(THP) have prodrug properties which upon irradiation,
exhibits cytotoxicity activities. PentylcarbanatoRe(I) diimine complexes, 2-(acetyloxy)
benzoate Re(CO3), Re(CO3) pentylcarbonato complexes, [Re(CO)3(2-amino-4-phenyl
amino-6-(2-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine)Cl] and Thiophene-2-carbohydrazide Re(V)
complexes exhibits strong DNA binding activities. The 2-acetylpyridine-derived
hydrazones Re(CO)3, Re(I) polypyridyl complexes and fac-[Re(CO)3(phen)] carboxy
lato complexes were conjugated with aspirin reported as anti-inflammatory drugs.
OxoRe(V) complexes with 3,3′-thiodipropanethiol tridentate ligands have been
reported to inhibit the cathepsin B and K. Similar, Re-based complexes are synthesised
using various ligands and that exhibit selectivity, controlled release and high efficacy
potentials. However, still this research is at the preclinical studies. Re-based complexes
have well-documented for antioxidant, drug delivery, selective anticancer activities,
anti-inflammatory, DNA binding and damage inducing potential depending on the type
ligand-Re complexes to contribute to cancer therapy. Thus, Re-compounds can be
utilised in targeted therapies through coupling them with the biomolecules especially
proteins and anticancer drugs. Among them, diselenium-rhenium complexes have
selectivity and reduce the stress in the tumor environment to down regulate the breast
cancer specific inflammatory cytokines to enhance the anticancer activity. Therefore,
rhenium-based drugs are promising drugs candidate other than platinum-based drugs.
Keywords: Anti-inflammatory, Anti-oxidant, Cancer imaging, Cancer treatment,
Cytotoxicity, Mitochondrial targeting, Molecular target, Photoreactive, Rhenium
drugs, Targeted therapy.
