The often severe side effects displayed by currently used platinum and ruthenium complexes have motivated researchers to design and develop Palladium metal complexes as anti-tumor agents with reduced toxicity. Distinct from organic anti-tumour drugs, Palladium metal complexes possess several properties that render them as promising scaffolds for anti-cancer drug discovery. While a vast number of metal complexes have been synthesized and reported to be promising and potent in vitro anticancer active compounds, fewer have shown efficacy in in vivo models. The demonstration of in vivo potency is an essential step for lead candidates for clinical trials. In this review, we highlight examples of Palladium metal complexes that have shown in vivo anti-tumor activities that have been described in recent years.

Keywords: Palladium metal, Anti-tumor, Cancer