Platinum Complexes with Edda (Ethylenediamine -N, N - Diacetate) Ligands as Potential Anticancer Agents

The design of platinum based drugs is not a new field of interest. Platinum complexes are widely used as anticancer agents and currently, approximately 30 platinum(II) and platinum(IV) entered into some of the phases of clinical trials. A special place in today’s research belongs to platinum complexes with diammine ligands. A large number of edda (ethylenediamine- N, N’-diacetate)-type ligands and their corresponding metal complexes has been successfully synthesized. This article summarizes recent progress in research on edda-type-platinum complexes. Some of these agents achieves better effect compared to the gold standard (cisplatin). It has been shown that there is a possible relationship between the length of the ligand ester group carbon chain and its cytotoxic effect. In most cases the longer the ester chain is the greater is the antitumor activity. Of particular interest are the noticeable effects of some new platinum compound with edda-type ligand on cell lines that are known to have a high level of cisplatin-resistance. Exanimate complexes appear to have a different mode of mechanism of action compared with cisplatin which includes apoptotic and necrotic cell death. There are indications that further investigations of these compounds may be very useful in overcoming the problems associated global cancer statistic.