title: DNA intercalators in cancer therapy: organic and inorganic drugs and their spectroscopic tools of analysis.
abstract: Since the discovery of the DNA intercalation process by Lerman in 1961 thousands of organic, inorganic octahedral (particularly ruthenium(II) and rhodium(III)) and square-planar (particularly platinum(II)) compounds have been developed as potential anticancer agents and diagnostic agents. The design and synthesis of new drugs is focused on bis-intercalators which have two intercalating groups linked via a variety of ligands, and synergistic drugs, which combine the anticancer properties of intercalation with other functionalities, such as covalent binding or boron-cages (for radiation therapy). Advances in spectroscopic techniques mean that the process of DNA intercalation can be examined in far greater detail than ever before, yielding important information on structure-activity relationships. In this review we examine the history and development of DNA intercalators as anticancer agents and advances in the analysis of DNA-drug interactions.
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, University of Western Sydney, Penrith South DC, NSW, Australia. j.aldrich-wright@uws.edu.au
authors.forename: Nial J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Wheate
authors.forename: Craig R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Brodie
authors.forename: J Grant
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kemp
authors.forename: Janice R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Aldrich-Wright
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D004357:Drug Synergism; D006801:Humans; D007364:Intercalating Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011489:Protein Denaturation; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D013057:Spectrum Analysis; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007364:Intercalating Agents; D009942:Organometallic Compounds