ANTI-CANCER DRUGS

• EXAMPLE OF AN ANTI-CANCER DRUG?

  cisplatin
• CISPLATIN?

  • square planar molecule
  • (NH3)2Pt(Cl)2
  • bonds to strands of DNA
  • distorts shape
  • prevents replication
• HOW DOES CISPLATIN WORK?

  • bonds to N atom on two adjacent guanine bases
  • lone pairs on N atoms form dative covalent bonds with Pt
  • Cl atoms displaced by water
  • water ligands displaced by N on guanine as it is a better ligand
  • ligand substitution reaction
• SIDE EFFECTS OF CISPLATIN?

  • binds to DNA in healthy cells
  • but cancer cells replicate faster so there is a smaller effect in healthy cells
  • causes hair loss (hair follicles are fast replicating)