The mechanism of action of platinum anticancer agents—what do we really know about it?

Abstract

Although 40 years have passed since the discovery of the anticancer activity of cisplatin, the mechanism of action of the drug is unclear. There are several working hypotheses that guide the researchers in this field. Unexpected results that we obtained cannot be reconciled with some of those assumptions. Our main intention is to call upon researchers in the field to re-examine the working hypotheses that may have been formulated on the basis of outdated methodologies.