Cisplatin

Definition

Cisplatin is a chemotherapy drug that contains platinum and is used to treat various forms of cancer, including testicular, ovarian, bladder, and lung cancer. This compound works primarily by causing DNA crosslinking, which inhibits DNA replication and transcription, leading to cell death. Its mechanism of action connects it closely with DNA repair pathways, as cells attempt to repair the damage caused by cisplatin, which can influence their sensitivity to treatment.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Cisplatin is primarily effective against rapidly dividing cancer cells, making it a common choice for aggressive tumors.
2. Cells exposed to cisplatin can activate various DNA repair pathways in an attempt to fix the damage caused by the drug, which can sometimes lead to drug resistance.
3. The side effects of cisplatin treatment can include nausea, vomiting, kidney toxicity, and hearing loss due to its effects on healthy cells.
4. Research continues to explore combinations of cisplatin with other therapies to enhance its effectiveness while minimizing resistance.
5. Cisplatin was first approved for clinical use in 1978 and has since become a cornerstone in cancer treatment protocols worldwide.

Review Questions

• How does cisplatin's mechanism of action relate to the function of DNA repair pathways in cancer cells?
  • Cisplatin functions by causing DNA crosslinking, which disrupts normal DNA replication and transcription. As a response to this damage, cancer cells activate various DNA repair pathways, including nucleotide excision repair. The effectiveness of cisplatin can be influenced by the efficiency of these repair mechanisms; if cancer cells successfully repair the damage, they may survive and develop resistance to further treatment.
• Discuss the implications of cisplatin-induced DNA damage on the development of treatment strategies for cancer.
  • The ability of cisplatin to induce significant DNA damage has profound implications for cancer treatment strategies. Understanding how different cancer types utilize their DNA repair pathways can help tailor treatment regimens that either enhance cisplatin's effectiveness or combine it with other agents that target specific repair mechanisms. This approach aims to minimize resistance and improve patient outcomes by exploiting the vulnerabilities in cancer cell survival strategies.
• Evaluate the impact of cisplatin on both tumor cells and healthy cells during chemotherapy treatment.
  • Cisplatin has a dual impact during chemotherapy treatment. While it effectively targets rapidly dividing tumor cells by causing DNA damage that leads to cell death, it also affects healthy cells that divide quickly, such as those in the gut lining and hair follicles. This results in side effects like nausea and hair loss. The challenge lies in maximizing the drug's effectiveness against cancer while mitigating its adverse effects on normal tissues, which requires ongoing research into combination therapies and protective strategies for healthy cells.

Related terms

DNA Crosslinking: A process where two strands of DNA become covalently bonded together, preventing them from separating and thus blocking replication and transcription.

Nucleotide Excision Repair (NER): A DNA repair mechanism that removes damaged DNA fragments and replaces them with the correct nucleotides to restore the integrity of the DNA strand.

Platinum-Based Drugs: A class of chemotherapy agents that include cisplatin and carboplatin, which utilize platinum to interfere with DNA function in cancer cells.