Gold compounds in medicine: Potential anti-tumour agents

Abstract

An overview of the use of gold drugs in the alleviation of the symptoms associated with the debilitating disease rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is presented. Other potential therapies based on gold compounds, such as against parasitic diseases, HIV and asthma are summarised. The development of gold compounds as novel anti-tumour agents is also described. Compounds containing gold(I), as utilised in the treatment of RA, and gold(III), show exciting potential in this regard, there being some very potent compounds targeting biological targets, such as DNA, and displaying selectivity in their cytotoxic profiles. In conclusion, very real potential exists for the development of anti-tumour agents based on gold.