I would like some information on the mechanism of DNA-intercalating
anticancer drugs (i.e. anthracyclines). It seems to be that the
intercalators inhibit transcription and replication activity, and that
since cancer cells are very active in these, that these cells would be
most affected, but that every cell in the body would be somewhat
poisoned. Or, is it that the intercalators effect an insertion mutation
in the DNA replicate (although I can't imagine why someone would want to
FURTHER mutate an already haywire cancer cell). Or am I completely
missing the point? All the sources I have allude to the anti - cancer
abilities of anthracyclines and the like, but they skip around the
mechanisms of them. Please send me any info to: mlutz at haverford.edu
Thank you very much!
Michele
