Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 10, 2026

Detection of Modified Forms of Cytosine Using Sensitive Immunohistochemistry
07:13

Detection of Modified Forms of Cytosine Using Sensitive Immunohistochemistry

Published on: August 16, 2016

Alkylation of DNA and its aftermath

P D Lawley1

  • 1Haddow Laboratories, Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, Surrey, UK.

Bioessays : News and Reviews in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology
|June 1, 1995
PubMed

Insights

Alkylating drugs are widely used in cancer chemotherapy by damaging DNA, but this also makes them carcinogenic. Early research highlighted their dual role in cancer causation and treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Alkylating drugs are a cornerstone of modern cancer chemotherapy.
  • Their mechanism involves DNA damage to inhibit cancer cell replication.
  • A significant concern is their inherent carcinogenicity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the historical context of alkylating drugs in cancer research.
  • To connect their DNA-damaging action to both cancer causation and treatment strategies.
  • To underscore the dual nature of these agents in oncology.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of early studies on alkylating agents.
  • Analysis of pharmacopoeial classifications.
  • Discussion of DNA damage mechanisms.

Main Results:

  • Alkylating drugs are classified and widely used in cancer treatment.
  • DNA damage is the primary mode of action for these drugs.
  • The DNA-damaging property is directly linked to their carcinogenic potential.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding alkylating drugs is crucial for addressing cancer causation.
  • These agents represent a critical area for research in cancer treatment modalities.
  • The dual role of alkylating drugs necessitates careful consideration in cancer therapy and prevention.

More Related Videos

Immunostaining for DNA Modifications: Computational Analysis of Confocal Images09:42

Immunostaining for DNA Modifications: Computational Analysis of Confocal Images

Published on: September 7, 2017

Quantitative Detection of DNA-Protein Crosslinks and Their Post-Translational Modifications10:12

Quantitative Detection of DNA-Protein Crosslinks and Their Post-Translational Modifications

Published on: April 21, 2023

Related Concept Videos

Overview of DNA Repair02:25

Overview of DNA Repair

In order to be passed through generations, genomic DNA must be undamaged and error-free. However, every day, DNA in a cell undergoes several thousand to a million damaging events by natural causes and external factors. Ionizing radiation such as UV rays, free radicals produced during cellular respiration, and hydrolytic damage from metabolic reactions can alter the structure of DNA. Damages caused include single-base alteration, base dimerization, chain breaks, and cross-linkage.
Chemically...
Base Excision Repair01:54

Base Excision Repair

One of the common DNA damages is the chemical alteration of single bases by alkylation, oxidation, or deamination. The altered bases cause mispairing and strand breakage during replication. This type of damage causes minimal change to the DNA double helix structure and can be repaired by the base excision repair (BER) pathways. BER corrects damaged DNA sequences by removing the damaged base and restoring the original base sequence using the complementary strand as a template.
The first step of...
Homologous Recombination02:31

Homologous Recombination

The basic reaction of homologous recombination (HR) involves two chromatids that contain DNA sequences sharing a significant stretch of identity. One of these sequences uses a strand from another as a template to synthesize DNA in an enzyme-catalyzed reaction. The final product is a novel amalgamation of the two substrates. To ensure an accurate recombination of sequences, HR is restricted to the S and G2 phases of the cell cycle. At these stages, the DNA has been replicated already and the...
Gene Conversion02:08

Gene Conversion

Other than maintaining genome stability via DNA repair, homologous recombination plays an important role in diversifying the genome. In fact, the recombination of sequences forms the molecular basis of genomic evolution. Random and non-random permutations of genomic sequences create a library of new amalgamated sequences. These newly formed genomes can determine the fitness and survival of cells. In bacteria, homologous and non-homologous types of recombination lead to the evolution of new...
Maxam-Gilbert Sequencing01:05

Maxam-Gilbert Sequencing

In the same year as the discovery of the Sanger sequencing method, another group of scientists, Allan Maxam and Walter Gilbert, demonstrated their chemical-cleavage method for DNA sequencing. The Maxam-Gilbert method relies on using different chemicals that can cleave the DNA sequence at specific sites, the separation of resulting DNA fragments of variable size using electrophoresis, and deciphering the DNA sequence from the resulting gel bands.
Challenges of the Maxam-Gilbert Method
The...
Phase II Reactions: Methylation Reactions01:17

Phase II Reactions: Methylation Reactions

Methylation is a phase II biotransformation process involving the attachment of a methyl group to a substrate. Enzymes known as methyltransferases orchestrate this reaction.
The mechanism of methylation unfolds in two stages. The first stage sees a methyltransferase enzyme facilitating the transfer of a methyl group from S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) to the substrate, forming S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH). The second stage involves further metabolism of SAH into homocysteine, which can be recycled...