Oxidation states in metallocenes: A key mechanistic component in cancer alleviation

Metal complexes are widely employed in cancer treatment. The several tuning variables provide peerless possibilities for drug development strategies. This results in a diverse portfolio of metallodrugs with a superior array of activities and modes of action than traditional carbon-based organic compounds. Clinically authorized metal-based compounds, such as cisplatin, oxaliplatin, and carboplatin, are utilized to admonish a variety of cancers and act significantly in combination regimes, especially those including immunotherapy. Nevertheless, metallodrugs typically have meager pharmacokinetics, depreciated target site accumulation, off-target responsiveness, and drug resistance, restricting their effectiveness and irrefutable translation. Metallocenes have emerged as a potent tool for addressing these problems. Several metallocenes have already enhanced the effectiveness and decreased the noxiousness of chemotherapeutic medications. In this comprehensive review, we have scrutinized the mechanism of action primarily dictated by the various oxidation states of metals within metallocenes. Our analysis encompasses the potentialities and limitations inherent in this context, shedding light on the reasons underlying their scarcity in the concluding phases of drug development. The review includes an elucidation of the latest pertinent advancements in metallocenes, and we have delved into how the strategic integration of coordination chemistry and the diverse oxidation states of metals holds promise for advancing metallocene clinical translation.