AQA A Level Chemistry

Revision Notes

7.7.5 Anticancer Drugs

Test Yourself

Action of Anticancer Drugs

  • In the 1960s the drug cis-platin was discovered, which has been extremely effective in treating a number of different types cancer such as testicular, ovarian, cervical, breast, lung and brain cancer
  • Cancer cells grow and replicate much faster than normal cells
  • Cis-platin is a square planar molecule that has a geometric isomer with the side groups in different positions

Chemistry of Transition Elements - Cis and Trans-Platin Current SP, downloadable AS & A Level Chemistry revision notes

The structures of cis-platin and trans-platin

  • The cis-platin works by binding to the nitrogen atoms on the bases in DNA
  • The cis-platin passes through the cell membrane and undergoes ligand exchange where the chlorines are replaced by water molecules
  • The nitrogen is a better ligand than water and forms dative covalent bonds with the cis-platin
  • The cis-platin distorts the shape of the DNA and prevents the DNA from replicating

Chemistry of Transition Elements - Cis-Platin Mode of Action Current SP, downloadable AS & A Level Chemistry revision notes

The process by which cis-platin binds to DNA and prevents replication

Adverse Effects

  • Cis-platin binds to healthy cells as well as cancerous cells, but affects cancer cells more as they are replicating faster
  • Unfortunately, this means that other healthy cells which replicate quickly, such as hair follicles, are also affected by cis-platin
  • This is why hair loss is a side-effect of people undergoing cancer treatment
  • Despite this drawback, cisplatin is a highly effective drug and society needs to find a balance between the adverse effects of drugs and their therapeutic value
  • New therapeutic pathways are constantly under development that aim to deliver drugs that target cancer cells while leaving healthy cells untouched

You've read 0 of your 0 free revision notes

Get unlimited access

to absolutely everything:

  • Downloadable PDFs
  • Unlimited Revision Notes
  • Topic Questions
  • Past Papers
  • Model Answers
  • Videos (Maths and Science)

Join the 100,000+ Students that ❤️ Save My Exams

the (exam) results speak for themselves:

Did this page help you?

Stewart

Author: Stewart

Stewart has been an enthusiastic GCSE, IGCSE, A Level and IB teacher for more than 30 years in the UK as well as overseas, and has also been an examiner for IB and A Level. As a long-standing Head of Science, Stewart brings a wealth of experience to creating Topic Questions and revision materials for Save My Exams. Stewart specialises in Chemistry, but has also taught Physics and Environmental Systems and Societies.