Cisplatin drug molecule. Computer artwork showing the structure of a molecule of the chemotherapy drug Cisplatin. This drug is used to treat a number of cancers, including sarcomas, lymphomas and ovarian cancer. It slows the growth of the cancer by damaging the DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) in the cancerous cells. It causes cross-linking between DNA strands, which prevents the cells from dividing. The cells try to repair this damage, but are unable to do so and so initiate apoptosis (programmed cell death). Atoms are represented as spheres and are colour-coded: platinum (pink), chloride (green), hydrogen (white), and nitrogen (blue) - with the bonds between them as rods.