Cisplatin
PlatinolPubChem CID 5702198 · 3D model
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Locks onto a cancer cell's DNA and crosslinks the strands together, jamming the machinery it needs to copy itself and triggering the cell to die.
How it works
Once cisplatin gets inside a cell, it becomes chemically reactive and attaches itself directly to the cell's DNA. It binds two spots on the DNA strand together, creating a kink that the cell can't work around when it tries to read or copy its genetic code. Because this damage can't be fixed, the cell's own internal alarm systems recognize it as unrepairable and trigger the cell to self-destruct. Cancer cells, which divide and copy their DNA often, are especially vulnerable to this kind of damage.
What it’s used for
Cisplatin is FDA-approved for three advanced cancers: testicular cancer, ovarian cancer, and bladder cancer, usually after the disease has spread or surgery and radiation are no longer enough on their own. It's most often given together with other chemotherapy drugs, though for some ovarian and bladder cancer cases it can be used by itself.
- Mechanism
- Platinum-based DNA crosslinking agent
- Drug class
- Small molecule
- Therapeutic area
- Oncology