cis- Diamminedichloroplatin(II) (cisplatin) is one of the most effective oncoytic agents against cancers of the ovaries, bladder , and head and neck. It is also an important adjunct for cancers of cervix, lung and breast. Its most specacular success has been in the treatment of testicular cancer, a form of cancer previously resistant to any therapy but now considered to be curable in most cases.
However, cisplatin has three drawbacks which limit its usefulness: its severe toxicities, it only affects a narrow range of tumors and it causes the development of resistance in the tumor cell.
The platinum stereochemistry is very important with the trans isomer showing no anti-cancer activity.
