Cisplatin

Cisplatin is a platinum-based chemotherapy drug that damages cancer cells' DNA so they cannot divide. For mesothelioma, it is typically given together with pemetrexed (and sometimes bevacizumab or immunotherapy) as the backbone of first-line treatment. It is delivered by IV infusion, usually every three weeks for several cycles.

Origin

Cisplatin was first synthesized in 1845 by Italian chemist Michele Peyrone and was originally called Peyrone's salt. Its anticancer activity was discovered accidentally by Barnett Rosenberg at Michigan State University in the 1960s while studying the effects of electric current on bacteria. The FDA approved it for cancer treatment in 1978, and in 2004 the cisplatin–pemetrexed combination became the first regimen specifically approved for pleural mesothelioma.

Significance in Asbestos Context

For most patients with pleural or peritoneal mesothelioma, cisplatin plus pemetrexed has been the standard first-line chemotherapy for two decades and remains a benchmark against which newer treatments are measured. It can shrink tumors, slow progression, and modestly extend survival, and it is often used before or after surgery in multimodal treatment plans. Because it is harsh on the kidneys, hearing, and nerves, some patients are switched to carboplatin, a gentler platinum drug, if they cannot tolerate cisplatin; the choice and dose your oncologist makes will appear in your medical records and matters when documenting the course and cost of treatment for a legal claim.

Example Sentence

Her oncologist recommended six cycles of cisplatin and pemetrexed after the pleural mesothelioma diagnosis, with hydration before each infusion to protect her kidneys.

Related Terms

Pemetrexed, Carboplatin, Mesothelioma, Chemotherapy, Multimodal Therapy, Bevacizumab

Notes

• Ask your oncology team whether cisplatin or carboplatin is right for you. Kidney function, hearing, and overall fitness all factor in, and the choice may change between cycles.
• Request baseline and ongoing tests for kidney function (creatinine), magnesium, and hearing (audiogram) before and during treatment; report ringing in the ears, numbness in fingers or toes, or reduced urination promptly.
• Make sure your team prescribes folic acid and vitamin B12 starting at least a week before the first dose if you are receiving cisplatin with pemetrexed. This reduces serious side effects.
• Keep copies of every chemotherapy infusion record, including drug names, doses, dates, and any treatment delays or hospitalizations; these document the course of disease and treatment costs for an asbestos claim.
• Ask whether you are eligible for a clinical trial combining cisplatin with immunotherapy or newer agents, especially if first-line treatment stops working.