Golden immunity: gold complexes as emerging triggers of immunogenic cell death

Abstract

Cancer immunotherapy has transformed modern oncology, yet its clinical success remains limited by the intrinsically low immunogenicity of many solid tumours. Immunogenic cell death (ICD) has emerged as a powerful strategy to overcome this limitation by converting tumour cell death into a process that stimulates antitumour immunity. Metal complexes are particularly attractive in this context, as their tunable coordination environments and redox properties enable the controlled activation of cellular stress pathways associated with ICD. Among them, gold complexes have recently gained attention as versatile modulators of tumour cell death and immune signalling, owing to their unique chemical reactivity, including redox activity and selective targeting of thiol- and selenol-containing proteins. In this Perspective, we discuss the molecular mechanisms by which metal complexes promote immunogenic cell death and examine the emerging role of gold-based compounds within this framework. By comparing gold complexes with other metal-based ICD inducers, we highlight how coordination chemistry can be exploited to modulate cell-death pathways and immune activation. Finally, we outline key challenges and future opportunities for harnessing metal-based ICD inducers as next-generation chemo-immunotherapeutic agents.