Cisplatin as an Anti-Tumor Drug: Cellular Mechanisms of Activity, Drug Resistance and Induced Side Effects

Cisplatin as an Anti-Tumor Drug: Cellular Mechanisms of Activity, Drug Resistance and Induced Side Effects

Platinum complexes are clinically used as adjuvant therapy of cancers aiming to induce tumor cell death. Depending on cell type and concentration, cisplatin induces cytotoxicity, e.g., by interference with transcription and/or DNA replication mechanisms. Additionally, cisplatin damages tumors via induction of apoptosis, mediated by the activation of various signal transduction pathways, includi...

Epigenetic mechanisms of drug resistance: drug-induced DNA hypermethylation and drug resistance.

In a model system employing Chinese hamster V-79 cells, the DNA synthesis inhibitor 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (BW A509U, AZT) was shown to induce genome-wide DNA hypermethylation, low-frequency silencing of thymidine kinase (TK; EC 2.7.1.21) gene expression, and resistance to AZT. Twenty-four hours of exposure of V-79 cells to 150 microM AZT led to > 2-fold enhancement of genomic 5-methylcytos...

selenium can reduce the side effects of cisplatin as a chemotherapy drug

Mechanisms of Drug Resistance

Progress of research into the problem of resistance to antibiotics is held back by lack of knowledge of the biochemical mechanisms by which these drugs act. Fortunately, it is possible to study some of the mechanisms of drug resistance, even at a biophysical or biochemical level, without necessarily knowing very much about how the drug works—just as it is possible to study (at least at a biolog...

A Review of Drug-induced Side Effects in the Elderly A Review of Drug-induced Side Effects in the Elderly

Learning outcomes On completion of this article you should have: • an understanding of the factors that predispose the elderly to adverse drug reactions • a detailed knowledge of ocular side effects of systemic drugs commonly prescribed to the elderly • a detailed knowledge of the side effects of topical ophthalmic drugs commonly used by elderly patients • an understanding of the importance of ...