The Role of Metallodrugs in Enhancing Neuroendocrine Neoplasm Therapies: The Promising Anticancer Potential of Ruthenium-Based Complexes

Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) represent a small and heterogeneous group of tumors that share a common phenotype, originating from cells within the endocrine and nervous systems. Metallodrugs have had a significant impact on the treatment of NENs, as platinum-based chemotherapy is the first-line therapy approved for managing these types of tumors. Currently, medicinal inorganic chemistry is investigating new metal-based drugs to mitigate the side effects of existing agents, including cisplatin and its derivative compounds. Among the emerging alternatives to platinum-based drugs, ruthenium-based complexes garnered attention as potential chemotherapeutics due to their notable antineoplastic and antimetastatic activity. This review focuses on the promising antitumor effects of certain Ru compounds in NEN therapy, emphasizing their potential in NEN treatment through interaction with new potential targets. Among these, IT-139 (also known as KP-1339 or NKP-1339), which has already entered clinical trials, and other new Ru compounds are highlighted.