Recent advances in the discovery of copper(II) complexes as potential anticancer drugs

Abstract

This review article offers a literature search of the most active, new copper (II) anticancer complexes based on nitrogen-containing ligands, reported in the literature over the past 5 years: from the beginning of 2019, until mid-2024. In the modern world, cancer remains one of the deadliest diseases of all. Although years of the ongoing research allowed us to better understand its nature, and thus aim more precisely at specific molecular targets and pathways, many of its aspects remain unclear. Today, chemotherapy still remains at the forefront of cancer treatment. With the ever-growing struggles to overcome chemoresistance and occurrence of serious side effects, the discovery of new, more selective and active drugs is a task of an utmost importance. At the same time, copper (II)-based compounds offer a wide array of biological activities and valuable biochemical properties. This review article provides the update on the recent advances in the discovery of new potential anticancer drugs among copper (II)-based compounds in the recent five years.