CONDENSATION of l,l'-diacetyl ferrocene with 2-amino-5-methylthiazole in 1 : 2 molar ratio yields a ferrocenyl Schiff base ligand 1,1`- bis(Z)-N-ethyldiene-5-methylthiazol-2-amine ferrocene (L). This ligand forms 1:1 complexes with La(III), Ce(III), Pr(III) and Gd(III) nitrate in a good yield. Characterization of the ligand and complexes were carried out using infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectra, electronic absorption, magnetic susceptibility, molar conductivity and elemental analysis. The cytotoxicity and in vitro anticancer evaluation of the ligand and its complexes have been assessed against four different human tumor cell lines (MCF-7, HepG2, A549 and HCT116). The results revealed that the prepared compounds exert their actions in HepG2 and MCF-7 through inhibition of the activity of both urokinase and histone deacetylase (HDAC). Pr-complex revealed promising anticancer activity compared to the activity of the commonly used anticancer drug, doxorubicin