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Tuning Reactivity of Platinum(II) Complexes

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1.0 Introduction<br />

1.1 Cancer Disease<br />

Chapter 1<br />

Cancer is a generic term for a group <strong>of</strong> more than 100 diseases that can affect any part<br />

<strong>of</strong> the body. 1 Other terms used to describe the different types <strong>of</strong> cancer are malignant<br />

tumours and neoplasm (new growth). It is caused when genetic damage to the cells<br />

prevents them from being responsive to normal tissue controls. Cancer is a leading<br />

cause <strong>of</strong> death in the human population worldwide. 1 From a total <strong>of</strong> 7.6 million deaths<br />

in 2008 from cancer, 2 it is estimated that 9 million people will die from this disease by<br />

2015 and another 11.4 million in 2030. 3 The major cause <strong>of</strong> death from cancer is<br />

Metastasis, 4 which results from the ability <strong>of</strong> cancerous cells to stimulate cell division.<br />

This leads to rapid growth <strong>of</strong> abnormal cells beyond their usual boundaries. These<br />

changes enable cancer to invade adjoining tissues <strong>of</strong> the body and spread to other<br />

organs through the blood and the lymphatic systems. 5,6 Mutations and other genetic<br />

abnormalities observed in cancer cells can be caused by a combination <strong>of</strong><br />

environmental factors such as chemical carcinogens or life style effects like use <strong>of</strong><br />

alcohol, tobacco and drugs. 7 The most common types <strong>of</strong> cancer prevalent in men are:<br />

lung, stomach, liver, colorectal, oesophagus and prostate; while among women are:<br />

breast, lung stomach, colorectal and cervical. 4 Hence, from the above statistics there is<br />

need to develop new drugs, especially Pt(<strong>II</strong>) compounds as potential anti-tumour drugs<br />

to cure cancer, in addition to the existing ones. 8,9<br />

1.2 Cancer Treatment<br />

Currently, cancer can be treated by; surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy alone or in a<br />

combination <strong>of</strong> the listed strategies, 10 with aim <strong>of</strong> killing all malignant cells or at least<br />

considerably reducing their numbers. From the 16 th century, heavy metals like<br />

platinum, gold, and ruthenium have been used systemically to treat cancers, with the d 8<br />

Pt(<strong>II</strong>) being the leading metal ion. 11 The prototype example is cis-<br />

diamminedichloridoplatinum(<strong>II</strong>), better known as cisplatin.<br />

1

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