Toxic Effects of Platinum Compounds: Molecular Mechanisms of Toxicity

Abstract

Despite their effectiveness as a crucial component of combination chemotherapy against solid tumors, platinum compounds have many serious side effects that limit their use. This review article focuses on the various toxic effects of platinum compounds in cancer patients and the mechanisms of associated toxicity. It also describes the future directions for developing novel platinum-based compounds using both animal and human studies. A list of publications was included after searching the Google and Google Scholar databases, PubMed, and scientific journals between 2005-2020. Platinum-based medicines, as soft nucleophiles, can freely bind to proteins containing thiol groups like glutathione and DNA in normal and malignant cells, particularly those in fast-growing tissues, causing a variety of dangerous side effects. Fast-growing tissues such as the mucous membranes of the mouth, throat, stomach, and intestines, bone marrow, and hair follicles can be damaged by cytotoxic chemotherapy, resulting in gastrointestinal toxicities, myelosuppression, and hair loss. Platinum compounds also cause nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity, which are well-known side effects. Current platinum-based chemotherapy treatments have been restricted in the last decade, prompting a search for novel platinum-based medications with mechanisms of action distinct from those of existing chemotherapeutics.