6.7.4

Anti-Cancer Drugs (A2 Only)

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Anti-Cancer Drugs

DNA replication depends on unzipping the DNA strands of the double helix. Drugs can prevent this replication for cancerous cells.

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Cause of cancer

  • Cancer is caused by malfunctioning DNA replication.
  • If the DNA sequence is incomplete, damaged or altered, it can lead to medical problems.
    • This can come from exposure to radiation or carcinogenic chemicals.
  • In cancerous cells, mutations happen and DNA replication is uncontrolled.
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Cisplatin

  • Cisplatin is an anti-cancer drug.
  • Cisplatin is a square planar platinum complex with two ammonia and two chloride ligands.
  • Cisplatin undergoes a ligand exchange reaction in the body and binds to nitrogenous bases in DNA.
  • Cisplatin can prevent DNA replication by attaching to nitrogenous bases of the two strands of the double helix. This inhibits the unzipping of the DNA strands.
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Cisplatin issues

  • A problem with this anticancer drug is its adverse side effects.
  • Cisplatin is NOT selective and also stops normal cells from replicating.
    • So patients become unwell when taking the medication.

Jump to other topics

1Physical Chemistry

2Physical Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)

3Inorganic Chemistry

4Inorganic Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)

5Organic Chemistry 1

6Organic Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)

6.1Optical Isomerism (A2 Only)

6.2Aldehydes & Ketones (A2 Only)

6.3Carboxylic Acids & Esters (A2 Only)

6.4Aromatic Chemistry (A2 Only)

6.5Amines (A2 Only)

6.6Polymers (A2 Only)

6.7Biological Organic (A2 Only)

6.8Organic Synthesis (A2 Only)

6.9NMR Spectroscopy (A2 Only)

6.10Chromatography (A2 Only)

6.11A-A* (AO3/4) - Organic 2

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