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.

Cause of cancer

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.
Cisplatin

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.
Diagram
Cisplatin issues

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
1

Physical Chemistry

1.1

Atomic Structure

1.2

Amount of Substance

1.3

Bonding

1.4

Energetics

1.5

Kinetics

1.6

Equilibria

1.7

Redox

2

Physical Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)

3

Inorganic Chemistry

4

Inorganic Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)

5

Organic Chemistry 1

6

Organic Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)

6.1

Optical Isomerism (A2 Only)

6.2

Aldehydes & Ketones (A2 Only)

6.3

Carboxylic Acids & Esters (A2 Only)

6.4

Aromatic Chemistry (A2 Only)

6.5

Amines (A2 Only)

6.6

Polymers (A2 Only)

6.7

Biological Organic (A2 Only)

6.8

Organic Synthesis (A2 Only)

6.9

NMR Spectroscopy (A2 Only)

6.10

Chromatography (A2 Only)

6.11

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

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