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Tuning Reactivity of Platinum(II) Complexes

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1.2.1 Chemotherapy<br />

In cancer, a chemotherapeutic agent is one that kills the rapidly dividing cells, thus<br />

slowing and stopping the cancer from spreading. The anti-tumour agents include plant<br />

alkaloids, alkylating agents, hormones, and antibiotics (Figure 1.1). 12 Many <strong>of</strong> these<br />

chemotherapeutic agents target specific mechanisms within the body that control the<br />

progression <strong>of</strong> cancer. For instance, alkylating agents such as cisplatin interrupt<br />

replication <strong>of</strong> genetic material by cross-linking and strand-breaking DNA, leading to cell<br />

lysis; whereas hormones or hormone-like agents, such as estradiol (an oestrogenic<br />

hormone present in the ovaries) inhibit tumour growth by antagonizing naturally<br />

occurring ligands from their receptors and initiating tumour proliferation. 12 Antitumor<br />

antibiotics such as Doxorubicin prevent cell division by damaging the cell and<br />

interfering with DNA and RNA syntheses.<br />

Figure 1.1: Classification <strong>of</strong> chemotherapy drugs 13<br />

1.3 <strong>Platinum</strong> Chemistry<br />

<strong>Platinum</strong> is not an essential element, but due to its bioactivity, it is currently one <strong>of</strong> the<br />

most important therapeutic agents in cancer therapy 14 notwithstanding its well-known<br />

2

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