Metal-based compounds as antimetastatic agents: Mechanisms, molecular targets, translational potential, and future perspectives

Abstract

This review aims to provide a comprehensive and integrative overview of metal-based compounds and their hybrids as antimetastatic agents. We begin by classifying major classes of metallodrugs and examining their structural features. We then discuss the molecular mechanisms underlying their antimetastatic activity, followed by an analysis of structure–activity relationships. We critically evaluate pharmacokinetic and toxicological considerations, alongside current preclinical and clinical evidence. Finally, we highlight emerging trends and future directions that are expected to shape the development of next-generation metallodrugs. By bridging coordination chemistry and cancer biology, this review provides a framework for the rational design of metal-based therapeutics to address one of the most challenging aspects of cancer treatment: metastasis.