New Organometallic Ru(II) Compounds with Lonidamine Motif as Antitumor Agents

Complexes of Ruthenium(II) as Promising Dual-Active Agents against Cancer and Viral Infections

Poor responses to medical care and the failure of pharmacological treatment for many high-frequency diseases, such as cancer and viral infections, have been widely documented. In this context, numerous metal-based substances, including cisplatin, auranofin, various gold metallodrugs, and ruthenium complexes, are under study as possible anticancer and antiviral agents. The two Ru(III) and Ru(II) complexes, namely, BOLD-100 and RAPTA-C, are presently being studied in a clinical trial and preclinical studies evaluation, respectively, as anticancer agents. Interestingly, BOLD-100 has also recently demonstrated antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2, which is the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the last years, much effort has been dedicated to discovering new dual anticancer-antiviral agents. Ru-based complexes could be very suitable in this respect. Thus, this review focuses on the most recent studies regarding newly synthesized Ru(II) complexes for use as anticancer and/or antiviral agents.

Deciphering the Mysterious Relationship between the Cross-Pathogenetic Mechanisms of Neurodegenerative and Oncological Diseases

The relationship between oncological pathologies and neurodegenerative disorders is extremely complex and is a topic of concern among a growing number of researchers around the world. In recent years, convincing scientific evidence has accumulated that indicates the contribution of a number of etiological factors and pathophysiological processes to the pathogenesis of these two fundamentally different diseases, thus demonstrating an intriguing relationship between oncology and neurodegeneration. In this review, we establish the general links between three intersecting aspects of oncological pathologies and neurodegenerative disorders, i.e., oxidative stress, epigenetic dysregulation, and metabolic dysfunction, examining each process in detail to establish an unusual epidemiological relationship. We also focus on reviewing the current trends in the research and the clinical application of the most promising chemical structures and therapeutic platforms that have a modulating effect on the above processes. Thus, our comprehensive analysis of the set of molecular determinants that have obvious cross-functional pathways in the pathogenesis of oncological and neurodegenerative diseases can help in the creation of advanced diagnostic tools and in the development of innovative pharmacological strategies.