Targeted anticancer agents have become a cornerstone of cancer therapy, specifically acting on targets such as enzymes, receptors, and proteins to inhibit the growth and proliferation of cancer cells. In addition to enhancing therapeutic efficacy, these agents significantly reduce adverse effects and improve patients' quality of life. Carboranes, a class of boron cluster compounds with unique structural features in medicinal chemistry, hold considerable potential for optimizing the performance of targeted anticancer drugs. Characterized by three-dimensional aromaticity, high hydrophobicity, and substantial steric bulk, carboranes have been incorporated into the molecular scaffolds of known targeted anticancer agents by numerous researchers. Their distinct physicochemical properties are exploited to modulate the biological behavior of parent molecules, thereby strengthening drug-target interactions, improving target selectivity, and enhancing metabolic stability. Furthermore, due to their exceptionally high boron content, carboranes serve as efficient boron carriers in boron neutron capture therapy. This review summarizes the latest research progress on the application of carboranes in the design of targeted anticancer drugs, aiming to provide valuable insights and references for the development of carborane-based targeted anticancer agents.
| 科 Family | 属数 Number of genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) | 属 Genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 鹅膏菌科Amanitaceae | 2 | 11 | 5.26 | 鹅膏菌属 Amanita | 10 | 4.78 |
| 小菇科 Mycenaceae | 2 | 12 | 5.74 | 丝盖伞属 Inocybe | 5 | 2.39 |
| 多孔菌科 Polyporaceae | 8 | 14 | 6.70 | 蜡蘑属 Laccaria | 5 | 2.39 |
| 红菇科 Russulaceae | 3 | 23 | 11.00 | 小皮伞属 Marasmius | 6 | 2.87 |
| 小菇属 Mycena | 11 | 5.26 | ||||
| 光柄菇属 Pluteus | 5 | 2.39 | ||||
| 红菇属 Russula | 17 | 8.13 | ||||
| 栓菌属 Trametes | 5 | 2.39 |