Editorial: The developments of metal-based agents against lung cancer
Yi Gou, Li Liu, Hong Liang · Frontiers in Pharmacology · 2022
Editorial on the Research Topic The developments of metal-based agents against lung cancerLung cancer is a major public health concern globally, with approximately 1.8 million people diagnosed and 1.6 million people succumbing to this disease annually (Sung et al., 2021).Moreover, the 5-year survival rate is lower than 17 percent (Hirsch et al., 2017).Therefore, the research and development of anti-lung cancer agents is critical.Metalbased agents have several potential advantages over organic-based agents, such as multiple available redox states, several coordination geometries and numbers, as well as the intrinsic properties of the metal ion (van Rijt and Sadler, 2009;Barry and Sadler, 2013).Therefore, metal-based agents provide more opportunities for the development of antilung cancer agents compared to organic agents.This topic "The Developments of Metal-Based Agents Against Lung Cancer" reports on the recent advances in metal-based agents for treating lung cancer, thereby providing a new perspective on the treatment of lung cancer.Although platinum-and ruthenium-based agents have been successful in clinical trials or clinical use, serious side effects and drug resistance have hindered their use (Gou et al., 2021).Stimuli-responsive Pt-and Ru-complexes are effective strategies for reducing side effects and improving clinical efficacy.Furthermore, they allow targeted delivery of Pt/Rucomplexes and activation at the target site, which aids in regulating their efficacy and avoiding side effects.Zhang et al. systematically reviewed the representative (exo-stimuliresponsive, endo-stimuli-responsive, and dual-stimuli-responsive) stimulant-responsive platinum-and ruthenium-based agents utilized in lung cancer therapy.They described various representative examples of stimulus-responsive Pt/Ru-complexes in terms of structural design, response mechanisms, and potential medical applications.They also analyzed the challenges these responsive Pt/Ru-complexes face, such as the need for precise control and initiation of the response system, the requirement for exploring new therapeutic targets and their druggability, and systemic toxicity.Nanocarrier-based combination chemotherapy can reduce the side effects of Pt-based agents.Fang et al. summarized recent progress made in the field of nanocarriers (such as carbon nanohorns, liposomes, and