Which precious metal is used in the chemotherapy drug cisplatin?

The precious metal used in the chemotherapy drug cisplatin is platinum.

Cisplatin is an inorganic platinum compound whose chemical name is cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II). In the body, the drug undergoes chemical changes that allow platinum to attach to DNA, especially at guanine-rich sites. These attachments create cross-links that bend and disrupt DNA, preventing cancer cells from accurately copying or repairing their genetic material.

Because rapidly dividing cells depend heavily on DNA replication, this damage can stop cell division and trigger cell death. Cisplatin is used against several cancers, including testicular, ovarian, bladder, head and neck, lung, and other cancers in appropriate treatment plans.

The drug’s discovery followed an unexpected observation in the 1960s. Researchers studying electric fields and bacterial growth found that platinum compounds released from electrodes inhibited cell division. That clue led to cisplatin’s development as a cancer treatment. Its effectiveness is balanced by important toxicities, including kidney damage, hearing loss, and nerve damage, so treatment requires careful medical monitoring.