Ferrocenyl ferroptosis inducers as an emerging class of anticancer agents – a mini review

Abstract

Ferroptosis is one of the regulated cell death pathways and the process against which cancer cells cannot develop resistance as easily as against apoptosis. Thus ferroptosis inducers are often considered as an attractive candidates for a new generation of anticancer drugs. Among ferroptosis-inducing molecules are ferrocenyl compounds. Review shows how ferrocene-containing molecules induce ferroptosis in different cancer cell types both in vitro and in vivo. It also emphasizes that significance of ferrocenes in biological applications is still far from over. Further work is required to introduce ferrocene-based anticancer drug(s) to the clinic.