Cisplatin

Cisplatin, also known as cisplatinum or cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II), is a chemotherapy drug used to treat various types of cancer including sarcomas, lymphomas, germ cell tumors and some carcinomas (e.g. small cell lung cancer, ovarian cancer).

This molecule was first created in mid-19th century, being its discoverer Michel Peyronie.

Cisplatin belongs to a class of platinum-containing anti-cancer drugs and it was the first medicine developed in this class.

The molecule’s platinum complex reacts in vivo, binding with DNA forming intra-strand crosslinks which causes a conformational change in DNA affecting its replication. Cisplatin cytotoxicity is increased during S-phase and causes cell cycle to cease in the G2-phase, ultimately triggering apoptosis, i.e. programmed cell death.

Other mechanisms of cisplatin’s cytotoxicity include decreased ATPase activity, mitochondrial damage and altered cellular transport mechanisms.

Cisplatin-induced cellular destruction can result in tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) which includes hyperkalemia, hyperphosphatemia, hyperuricemia, hypocalcemia, which means, respectively, high concentrations of K⁺, phosphate and uric acid in the blood, and low concentration of serum calcium, also in the blood.