Heather Bedard, C.H.E.
Cisplatin is used as a chemotherapy drug and is used to target DNA preventing its replication. Cisplatin universally targets both cancerous and non-cancerous cells. Due to this, Cisplatin can instigate second cancers. This is shown in a study on treatment associated leukemia following testicular cancer.[1]
The risk of developing leukemia is statistically higher with higher doses of Cisplatin like 1,000mg vs 650mg. Typical doses of 650mg present a 3-fold risk while doses of 1,000mg double that. The risk of solid cancers increases 40% up to 20 years after treatment with Cisplatin-based chemotherapy in one population-based study.[2] More studies need to be done due to the observational and methodological limitations on most studies.
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[1] Travis LB, Andersson M, Gospodarowicz M, et al. Treatment-associated leukemia following testicular cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2000;92(14):1165-1171. doi:10.1093/jnci/92.14.1165
[2] Fung C, Fossa SD, Milano MT, Oldenburg J, Travis LB. Solid tumors after chemotherapy or surgery for testicular nonseminoma: a population-based study. J Clin Oncol. 2013;31(30):3807-3814. doi:10.1200/JCO.2013.50.3409