Cisplatin or cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (CDDP) is a platinum-based chemotherapy drug used to treat various types of cancers, including sarcomas, some carcinomas (e.g. small cell lung cancer and ovarian cancer), lymphomas and germ cell tumors. It was the first member of its class, which now also includes carboplatin and oxaliplatin.

Pharmacology

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Mode of action

Cisplatin acts by crosslinking DNA in several different ways, making it impossible for rapidly dividing cells to duplicate their DNA for mitosis. The damaged DNA sets off DNA repair mechanisms, which activate apoptosis when repair proves impossible. The trans isomer does not have this pharmacological effect.

Most notable among the DNA changes are the intrastrand GpG adducts which form nearly 90% of the adducts. Other adducts include inter-strand crosslinks and nonfunctional adducts that have been postulated to contribute to its activity. Interaction with cellular proteins has also been advanced as a mechanism of interfering with mitosis, although this is probably not its main action.

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