Final answer:
Cisplatin and carboplatin act by forming covalent bonds with DNA, preventing cell division and tumor growth, especially in reproductive organ cancers like ovarian and testicular cancer. While effective, these drugs have potential side effects, including damage to the kidneys, nerves, and ears.
Step-by-step explanation:
The anticancer drugs cisplatin and carboplatin work by interfering with DNA replication in cancer cells, thereby preventing cell division and tumor growth. These platinum compounds form strong covalent bonds with the nitrogen donor atoms in DNA. When administered, cisplatin reacts with water, losing chloride ions, which are replaced by water molecules to produce an active species that can bind to DNA. MIT chemist Steve Lippard and graduate student Amy Rosenzweig detailed the mechanism in the 1990s, where they found that in ovarian and testicular cancer cells, platinum by DNA forms a bend that prevents the DNA strand from participating in replication processes due to protein interference.
Cisplatin is particularly effective against tumors of the reproductive organs, including ovarian and testicular cancers. Carboplatin, a later generation drug that includes the diammine portion with different groups replacing the dichloro portion, is also used to treat various forms of cancer.
These drugs, while effective, come with potential toxicities. Side effects can include nephrotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and ototoxicity, which are consequential and demand careful monitoring during treatment.