Cisplatin

Cisplatin (Platinol) is a platinum-based chemotherapy that is most frequently used to treat early-stage and metastatic triple-negative breast cancer and breast cancer that has a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation.

Platinum-based chemotherapies contain the metal platinum.

Cisplatin is sometimes called the “penicillin of cancer” because it has been one of the most widely used chemotherapy medicines and was one of the first effective cancer treatments.

How cisplatin works

Cisplatin kills cancer cells by damaging their DNA and stopping them from dividing.

Who gets cisplatin

Cisplatin is most often used to treat triple-negative breast cancer. It is particularly active in breast cancers with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation, as these tumors have difficulty repairing the DNA damage that cisplatin causes.

For early-stage breast cancer, cisplatin may be given before surgery as part of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, or to treat a return (recurrence) of early-stage disease.

Cisplatin may also be used to treat metastatic breast cancer.

Researchers continue to study cisplatin in clinical trials to better understand which patients are most likely to benefit.

How cisplatin is given

Cisplatin can be given alone, or with other chemotherapy medicines. For example, cisplatin plus gemcitabine (Gemzar) is one treatment option for triple-negative metastatic breast cancer.

Cisplatin is given by vein through an intravenous (IV) line. It can also be given through a port, a small, implantable device that can be placed in the chest temporarily in an outpatient procedure. A chemotherapy port helps you avoid repeated needle sticks.

Cisplatin is usually given once every 3 weeks, but the exact schedule depends on the combination of medicines used and your specific diagnosis. Many breast cancer chemotherapy regimens for early-stage disease consist of four to six cycles of treatment given over 3 to 6 months.

Before and during treatment, your doctor will monitor your kidney function with blood tests. You will also receive fluids through your IV on the days you get cisplatin to help protect your kidneys. Drinking plenty of water at home on treatment days is also recommended.

Side effects and things to remember

Common side effects may include:

• Low blood counts
• Hair loss
• Loss of appetite or weight
• Diarrhea
• Nausea and vomiting
• Hearing loss and ear ringing
• Numbness or tingling in the fingers and toes, called neuropathy
• Fatigue

Less common side effects include:

• Allergic reactions
• Kidney problems

If you have problems urinating, be sure to report them to your doctor. Seek immediate medical care if you have chills or a fever of 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, which may be signs of infection.

Before starting cisplatin, tell your doctor about any medicines you are taking, including vitamins, herbal supplements and over-the-counter medicines. Also tell your providers if you had a prior allergic reaction to cisplatin, carboplatin, or other platinum-based medicines, have a history of kidney disease, are pregnant, or may become pregnant. You should not breastfeed while you are on this medicine, because it can get into breast milk.

Cisplatin slightly increases the risk of developing leukemia, or blood cancer. Talk to your doctor about this and other risks of taking this medicine.

Your care team can help you manage your side effects. You can also visit our section on side effects for more information.