Organo-platinum complexes as antitumor agents (review)

Area of Science:

• Medical Oncology
• Medicinal Chemistry
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Discovery of platinum coordination complexes as potential antitumor agents.
• Cisplatin [cis-dichlorodiammine platinum (II)] demonstrated activity against rodent tumors and synergistic effects with chemotherapy.
• Initial clinical trials in 1971 showed efficacy against malignant lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, and other malignancies, despite noted toxicities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the development and clinical application of cisplatin as an anticancer agent.
• To highlight the ongoing research into platinum-based chemotherapy and novel congener development.
• To identify promising areas for future investigation in platinum-based cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

• Review of clinical literature on cisplatin's efficacy and toxicity.
• Synthesis and preclinical evaluation of platinum congeners.
• Clinical investigation of cisplatin in combination chemotherapy regimens.

Main Results:

• Cisplatin is an effective anticancer agent for squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck, ovarian carcinoma, and testicular cancer.
• Management strategies like hydration and diuresis have mitigated nephrotoxicity; antiemetic advancements have improved tolerability.
• Thousands of platinum congeners synthesized, many potent in preclinical studies, but few clinically evaluated.

Conclusions:

• Cisplatin is an FDA-approved, valuable anticancer drug with manageable side effects.
• The full therapeutic potential of cisplatin is yet to be realized.
• Further clinical evaluation of novel platinum congeners, such as malonato trans(-)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane platinum(II), is warranted.