What is Cisplatin: Cisplatin forms part of a group of drugs called cytostatics, which are recommended in the treatment of cancer. It can be used alone but more commonly it is used together with other cytostatics.
Cisplatin has potential to destroy cells in your body that can cause certain types of cancer (tumour of testis, tumour of ovary, head and neck epithelial tumour, tumour of the bladder, lung cancer and for cervical cancer together with radiotherapy).
Indications: The FDA approved cisplatin uses are as follows:
- Cisplatin is indicated in order to treat advanced testicular cancer.
- Cisplatin holds the approval in order to treat advanced ovarian cancer.
- It is also used in order to treat advanced bladder cancer.
How does cisplatin work:
Cisplatin mainly belongs to the platinum-based antineoplastic family of drugs. It specifically works in part by binding to DNA and then it inhibits replication.
Dosage & Administration: The cisplatin injection should be administered by the slow intravenous infusion. It should be avoided in order to be given by rapid intravenous injection.
- Metastatic Testicular Tumors: The usual cisplatin dose for treating testicular cancer together with the other approved chemotherapeutic agents is 20 mg/m2 should be given intravenously daily for the 5 days per cycle.
- Metastatic Ovarian Tumors: For the treatment of metastatic ovarian tumors together with cyclophosphamide, the usual dose is cisplatin 75 to 100 mg/m2 intravenously per cycle once every 4 weeks.
- The dose of cyclophosphamide when used together with cisplatin is 600 mg/m2 intravenously once every 4 weeks.
- In combination therapy, the cisplatin and cyclophosphamide are given sequentially.
- As a single agent, cisplatin should be given at a dose of 100 mg/m2 intravenously per cycle once every 4 weeks.
- Advanced Bladder Cancer: Cisplatin is given as a single agent at a dose of 50 to 70 mg/m2 IV per cycle once every 3 to 4 weeks depending on the extent of prior exposure to the radiation therapy or prior chemotherapy.
- For patients who are heavily pre-treated, the initial dose of cisplatin is 50 mg/m2, should be given per cycle repeated every 4 weeks.
Overdose: The higher doses of cisplatin due to the accidental overdose have been reported in order to cause nephrotoxicity, neurotoxicity, ototoxicity. Immediately call your doctor in case of drug overdose.
Missed Dose: The cisplatin needs to be given on a fixed schedule. If you miss a dose, call your healthcare provider in order to get proper medical instructions.
Side Effects of Cisplatin:
The most commonly reported cisplatin side effects are:
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- hiccups,
- dry mouth,
- dark urine,
- dry skin
- signs of dehydration
- decreased sweating
- loss in ability to taste food
- temporary hair loss
Some other serious adverse reactions of cisplatin 50 mg has also been reported, these are:
- numbness
- trouble walking
- allergic reactions
- electrolyte problems
- heart disease
Warnings:
- The cisplatin 50 mg may be responsible for causing fetal harm when administered to pregnant women.
- It is highly recommended that the cisplatin injection should not be given more frequently than once every 3-4 weeks.
Precautions:
- Patients should be weekly monitored for the peripheral blood counts.
- Liver function should be monitored periodically.
- Neurologic examination should also be performed regularly.
- The cisplatin chemotherapy drug has been reported to be found in human milk hence patients receiving cisplatin should not breastfeed.
- The safety as well as effectiveness in the pediatric patients have not been established.
Storage: Do not store cisplatin 50mg above 25°C. Do not refrigerate or freeze. Keep a container in the outer carton in order to protect from light.
Cost: In India, the cisplatin price is quite reasonable. The drug is available at all the WHO-GDP & ISO certified pharmaceutical companies.
