Why Are Cross Links Important in Cancer Treatment?
The ability to induce DNA cross links is exploited in cancer treatment. Many chemotherapy agents, such as cisplatin and cyclophosphamide, work by forming cross links within the DNA of cancer cells. These agents aim to induce enough DNA damage to kill rapidly dividing cancer cells while sparing normal cells as much as possible. The effectiveness of these treatments largely depends on the cancer cells' ability to repair the induced cross links.
