Anticancer titanium agents

Most antitumour Ti compounds act on tumours in the gastrointestinal tract. Some species with increased water solubility also show activity towards bre ast, lung and melanoma cancers. These compounds are structurally and chemic ally diverse, ranging from complex salts to coordination complexes. In the former, the oxidative state can be either Ti(lll) or TI(IV); while in the l atter the co-ordination number can be 4 or 6. Active 6 coordinate species c an be mono- or tetranuclear compounds. This review focuses on recent progre ss in this promising area including clinical studies and their related pate nts. Additional features of this non-toxic metal, not yet described in pate nts, are also mentioned along with perspectives for application in cancer t herapy.