Final answer:
Cisplatin, a platinum-based chemotherapy drug approved in 1978, is effective in cancer treatment due to its ability to bind DNA and inhibit cell replication. It was discovered that only the cis isomer works, leading to further drug developments like carboplatin and oxaliplatin.
Step-by-step explanation:
The compound cisplatin (PtCl₂(NH₃)₂), which is effective in treating certain types of cancer, was discovered in 1965 by scientists at Michigan State University. They found that this platinum complex inhibited cell division in microorganisms, indicating its potential as an anticancer agent. Notably, only the cis isomer of this compound is effective in cancer treatment; the trans isomer is inactive. The US Food and Drug Administration approved cisplatin in 1978. The mechanism by which cisplatin works involves its binding to DNA within the cell nucleus, preventing cancerous cell replication, particularly effective in treating ovarian and testicular cancers.
The discovery of cisplatin's mechanism of action was further elucidated by Steve Lippard and Amy Rosenzweig at MIT in the 1990s, when they demonstrated how cisplatin binding causes DNA to bend, leading to the disruption of cell replication. This research has led to the development of other platinum-based chemotherapy drugs like carboplatin, oxaliplatin, and satraplatin, which also utilize the cis configuration.