Beyond cisplatin: New frontiers in metallodrugs for hard-to-treat triple negative breast cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive and hard-to-treat form of breast cancer. TNBC has a higher propensity for earlier relapse and an increased risk of metastasis than all other forms of breast cancer. TNBC patients have a low survival rate (<5 years). This clearly shows an urgent unmet medical need for TNBC patients. The lack of receptors makes it challenging to develop more effective targeted therapy to treat TNBC. The investigation and development of innovative and multimodal strategies to target this aggressive and heterogeneous tumor are urgently needed. Herein, we highlighted important developments in various metal-based modalities such as photodynamic therapy, immunotherapy, sonodynamic therapy, and drug delivery systems tested on TNBC. Notably, we focus on examples of metallodrugs demonstrating unique mechanisms of action and significant potential in vitro and in vivo studies. We hope this review will serve as the basis for designing and developing metal-based therapeutics that will enhance the scope of TNBC therapy in clinics.