Related pages Drug Information Summaries 1 Approval Process for New Cancer Treatments 2 Access to Investigational Drugs: Q & A 3

This page contains brief information about cisplatin and a collection of links to more information from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the National Library of Medicine (NLM).

US Brand Name(s):		Platinol-AQ
		Platinol
FDA Approved:		Yes

Cisplatin is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be used by itself to treat the following conditions:

• Bladder cancer that cannot be treated with surgery or radiotherapy.
• Ovarian cancer that has metastasized (spread to other parts of the body) and has not gotten better with other drugs.

Cisplatin is approved to be used together with other drugs to treat the following conditions:

• Advanced ovarian cancer in patients who have already had surgery.
• Metastatic ovarian cancer in patients who have already had surgery or radiotherapy.
• Testicular cancer in patients who have already had surgery or radiotherapy.
• Locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) that cannot be treated with surgery.
• Late-stage cervical cancer that cannot be treated with surgery or radiotherapy.
• Malignant mesothelioma that cannot be treated with surgery.
• Locally advanced, advanced, or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that cannot be treated with surgery.

In addition to the uses that have been approved by the FDA, cisplatin is sometimes used alone or with other drugs to treat other types of cancer. Cisplatin continues to be studied in the treatment of many types of cancer.

Definition from the NCI Drug Dictionary ⁴ - Detailed scientific definition and other names for this drug.

Clinical Trial Results: Cisplatin No Better than Standard Therapy for Anal Canal Cancer (04/30/2008) ⁵ - Important clinical trial results for this drug, background information, and how the trial was done.

Clinical Trial Results: Stomach Cancer Drug, S-1, Given With Cisplatin, Shows Promise in Japanese Trial (03/12/2008) ⁶ - Important clinical trial results for this drug, background information, and how the trial was done.

Clinical Trial Results: Chemotherapy Before Surgery May Increase Survival in Stomach Cancer (07/09/2007) ⁷ - Important clinical trial results for this drug, background information, and how the trial was done.

Clinical Trial Results: Meta-Analysis Suggests Cisplatin Superior to Carboplatin for Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (06/19/2007) ⁸ - Important clinical trial results for this drug, background information, and how the trial was done.

Clinical Trial Results: Long-Term Data Support Cisplatin-Based Chemoradiation for Cervical Cancer (05/29/2007) ⁹ - Important clinical trial results for this drug, background information, and how the trial was done.

Clinical Trial Results: Surgery Does Not Improve Survival for Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients (04/17/2007) ¹⁰ - Important clinical trial results for this drug, background information, and how the trial was done.

Clinical Trial Results: Patients With Esophageal Cancer May Be Able to Avoid Surgery (04/16/2007) ¹¹ - Important clinical trial results for this drug, background information, and how the trial was done.

Clinical Trial Results: Impact of Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy on Quality of Life During Ovarian Cancer Treatment (02/14/2007) ¹² - Important clinical trial results for this drug, background information, and how the trial was done.

Clinical Trial Results: ERCC1 Expression in Lung Cancer May Predict Survival Benefit from Cisplatin (09/20/2006) ¹³ - Important clinical trial results for this drug, background information, and how the trial was done.

Clinical Trial Results: Chemotherapy Superior to Radiation for Uterine Sarcoma (06/27/2006) ¹⁴ - Important clinical trial results for this drug, background information, and how the trial was done.

Clinical Trial Results: Cisplatin Improves Survival in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (06/04/2006) ¹⁵ - Important clinical trial results for this drug, background information, and how the trial was done.

Clinical Trial Results: Elderly Benefit From Chemotherapy for Early NSCLC (06/03/2006) ¹⁶ - Important clinical trial results for this drug, background information, and how the trial was done.

Clinical Trial Results: Chemotherapy During Radiation Best for Nasopharyngeal Cancer (02/15/2006) ¹⁷ - Important clinical trial results for this drug, background information, and how the trial was done.

Clinical Trial Results: Cisplatin Plus Topotecan Gives Advanced Cervical Cancer Patients More Time (08/17/2005) ¹⁸ - Important clinical trial results for this drug, background information, and how the trial was done.

Clinical Trial Results: Chemotherapy Better Than Radiation for Advanced Endometrial Cancer (12/21/2005) ¹⁹ - Important clinical trial results for this drug, background information, and how the trial was done.

Clinical Announcement for Preferred Method of Treatment for Advanced Ovarian Cancer - Questions and Answers (01/04/2006) ²⁰ - Information about the use of this drug to treat cancer.

MedlinePlus Information on Cisplatin ²¹ - A lay language summary of important information about this drug that may include the following:

• warnings about this drug,
• what this drug is used for and how it is used,
• what you should tell your doctor before using this drug,
• what you should know about this drug before using it,
• other drugs that may interact with this drug, and
• possible side effects.

Drugs are often studied to find out if they can help treat or prevent conditions other than the ones they are approved for. This NLM patient information sheet applies only to approved uses of the drug. However, much of the information may also apply to unapproved uses that are being studied.

Clinical Trials for Cisplatin ²² - Check for trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry now accepting patients.

Glossary Terms

Cancer that has spread to other places in the body and usually cannot be cured or controlled with treatment.

Cancer that forms in tissues of the bladder (the organ that stores urine). Most bladder cancers are transitional cell carcinomas (cancer that begins in cells that normally make up the inner lining of the bladder). Other types include squamous cell carcinoma (cancer that begins in thin, flat cells) and adenocarcinoma (cancer that begins in cells that make and release mucus and other fluids). The cells that form squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma develop in the inner lining of the bladder as a result of chronic irritation and inflammation.

A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control. Cancer cells can invade nearby tissues and can spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems. There are several main types of cancer. Carcinoma is cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs. Sarcoma is cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue. Leukemia is cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow, and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood. Lymphoma and multiple myeloma are cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system. Central nervous system cancers are cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord.

Cancer that forms in tissues of the cervix (the organ connecting the uterus and vagina). It is usually a slow-growing cancer that may not have symptoms but can be found with regular Pap tests (a procedure in which cells are scraped from the cervix and looked at under a microscope).

Any substance, other than food, that is used to prevent, diagnose, treat or relieve symptoms of a disease or abnormal condition. Also refers to a substance that alters mood or body function, or that can be habit-forming or addictive, especially a narcotic.

An agency in the U.S. federal government whose mission is to protect public health by making sure that food, cosmetics, and nutritional supplements are safe to use and truthfully labeled. The Food and Drug Administration also makes sure that drugs, medical devices, and equipment are safe and effective, and that blood for transfusions and transplant tissue are safe. Also called FDA.

Cancer that arises in the head or neck region (in the nasal cavity, sinuses, lips, mouth, salivary glands, throat, or larynx [voice box]).

Cancer that has spread from where it started to nearby tissue or lymph nodes.

A rare type of cancer in which malignant cells are found in the lining of the chest or abdomen. Exposure to airborne asbestos particles increases one's risk of developing malignant mesothelioma.

To spread from one part of the body to another. When cancer cells metastasize and form secondary tumors, the cells in the metastatic tumor are like those in the original (primary) tumor.

A group of lung cancers that are named for the kinds of cells found in the cancer and how the cells look under a microscope. The three main types of non-small cell lung cancer are squamous cell carcinoma, large cell carcinoma, and adenocarcinoma. Non-small cell lung cancer is the most common kind of lung cancer.

Cancer that forms in tissues of the ovary (one of a pair of female reproductive glands in which the ova, or eggs, are formed). Most ovarian cancers are either ovarian epithelial carcinomas (cancer that begins in the cells on the surface of the ovary) or malignant germ cell tumors (cancer that begins in egg cells).

The use of high-energy radiation from x-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, protons, and other sources to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation may come from a machine outside the body (external-beam radiation therapy), or it may come from radioactive material placed in the body near cancer cells (internal radiation therapy). Systemic radiotherapy uses a radioactive substance, such as a radiolabeled monoclonal antibody, that travels in the blood to tissues throughout the body. Also called irradiation and radiation therapy.

Cancer that begins in squamous cells, which are thin, flat cells that look like fish scales. Squamous cells are found in the tissue that forms the surface of the skin, the lining of the hollow organs of the body, and the passages of the respiratory and digestive tracts. Also called epidermoid carcinoma.

A procedure to remove or repair a part of the body or to find out whether disease is present. An operation.

Cancer that forms in tissues of the testis (one of two egg-shaped glands inside the scrotum that make sperm and male hormones). Testicular cancer usually occurs in young or middle-aged men. Two main types of testicular cancer are seminomas (cancers that grow slowly and are sensitive to radiation therapy) and nonseminomas (different cell types that grow more quickly than seminomas).