AI Summary
This article discusses the potential of covalently linked tamoxifen hybrids for cancer treatment, focusing on how combining different pharmacophores can enhance drug potency and specificity in targeting multiple drug targets. Tamoxifen is commonly used in breast cancer treatment, and drug hybrids offer a promising approach to overcome challenges such as adverse reactions and drug resistance. Recent research has identified various tamoxifen hybrids, including organometallic, fluorescent, photocaged, and novel ligand-based hybrids, as potential candidates for cancer therapy. This study provides valuable insights for researchers aiming to improve cancer treatment outcomes by developing more effective and less toxic anticancer agents.
Cancer is a complex disease and the second leading cause of death globally, and breast cancer is still a leading cause of cancer death in women. Tamoxifen is the most commonly used drug for breast cancer (ER-positive) treatment and chemoprevention, saving the lives of millions of patients every year. In addition, the tamoxifen template has been explored extensively for the development of selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) applicable in breast cancer, osteoporosis, and postmenopausal symptom treatment. Numerous anticancer drugs, including tamoxifen, are in use, but the complexity and heterogeneous nature of cancer disease complicate the effect of conventional targeted drugs, leading to adverse reactions and resistance. One of the significant approaches to overcome these shortcomings is drug hybrid, generated by covalently linking two or more active pharmacophores. These drug hybrids are remarkably effective in acting on multiple drug targets with higher selectivity and specificity. In recent years, several tamoxifen hybrids have been discovered as potential candidates for cancer treatment. The review highlights the recent progress in developing anticancer hybrids, including organometallic, fluorescent, photocaged, and novel ligand-based tamoxifen hybrids. It also demonstrates the significance of merging various pharmacophores with tamoxifen to produce more potent, precise, and effective anticancer agents. The study offers valuable knowledge to researchers working on cancer research with the hope of enhancing drug potency and reducing drug toxicity to improve cancer patients’ lives.