Advances in Copper Complexes as Anticancer Agents

Copper is a transition metal that can exist in oxidized (Cu(II)) and reduced (Cu(I)) states. This allows it to participate in redox and catalytic chemistry, making it a suitable cofactor for a diverse range of enzymes and molecules. Copper complexes have been investigated for their therapeutic or diagnostic potential showing effectiveness in cancer treatment due to their cytotoxic action on tumour cells. In this review, the most remarkable achievements in the design and development of copper(I, II) complexes as antitumor agents are discussed. Special emphasis has been focused on the identification of structure-activity relationships for the different classes of complexes. Up to now, despite the enormous…