Advances in anticancer applications of platinum(II) complexes of dithiocarbamates

This review presents an overview of the antitumor properties of various platinum(II) complexes of dithiocarbamates. It has been noticed that in several cases the activity is greater than cisplatin, while their toxicity level is low. The monofunctional platinum(II)-dithiocarbamate complexes comprising a labile chloride ligand possess the most effective cytotoxic behavior among the complexes discussed here. The bis(dithiocarbamato) complexes on the other hand show poor anti-proliferative potential. The complexes manifest their antitumor activity through DNA interaction that takes place via covalent bonding, intercalation or electrostatic interaction. The study of apoptotic activity in some cases suggests that these complexes trigger apoptosis, which causes the cell death. The induction of apoptosis is correlated with the generation of reactive oxygen species, the cell cycle arrest and the inhibition of NF-kB activity. The protective effects of dithiocarbamates against the platinum-induced toxicity have been explained. Dithiocarbamates were found to control the side effects of cisplatin and the anticancer activity of cisplatin was significantly improved in the presence of a dithiocarbamate. The study highlights that platinum(II) complexes of dithiocarbamates may be regarded as promising anticancer agents because of their effective cytotoxic properties and their potential to overcome cisplatin resistance.