BRAINCAKESide Effects of Cisplatin
Cisplatin cannot tell the difference between the DNA of cancer cells and the DNA of healthy cells. It binds to guanine in any cell it enters, so it also damages normal cells, especially those that divide rapidly. This causes adverse effects (side effects).
Common side effects include:
• hair loss, because hair follicle cells divide rapidly
• nausea and vomiting
• damage to the kidneys, which excrete the platinum
• hearing loss and nerve damage
• a weakened immune system, because blood cells are made by rapidly dividing cells in the bone marrow
Reducing the harm
• Giving the drug in small doses, in cycles with breaks so that healthy cells can recover.
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More in Amino Acids, Proteins and DNA
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- Tertiary Structure of Proteins
- Enzymes and Stereospecific Active Sites
- Drug Action and Enzyme Inhibitors
- Structure of DNA Nucleotides
- Hydrogen Bonding between DNA Bases
- Cisplatin
- How Cisplatin Prevents DNA Replication
All 15 lessons in Amino Acids, Proteins and DNA · All AQA A-level Chemistry topics