Harnessing External Irradiation for Precise Activation of Metal‐Based Agents in Cancer Therapy

Abstract Cancer is a significant global health issue. Platinum‐based chemotherapy drugs, including cisplatin, are crucial in clinical anti‐cancer treatment. However, these drugs have limitations such as drug resistance, non‐specific distribution, and irreversible toxic and side effects. In recent years, the development of metal‐based agents has led to the discovery of other anti‐cancer effects beyond chemotherapy. Precise spatiotemporal controlled external irradiation can activate metal‐based agents at specific sites and play a different role from traditional chemotherapy. These strategies can not only enhance the anti‐cancer efficiency, but also show fewer side effects and non‐cross‐drug resistance, which are ideal approaches to solve the problems caused by traditional platinum‐based chemotherapy drugs. In this review, we focus on various metal‐based agent‐mediated cancer therapies that are activated by three types of external irradiation: near‐infrared (NIR) light, ultrasound (US), and X‐ray, and give some prospects. We hope that this review will promote the generation of new kinds of metal‐based anti‐cancer agents.