Cisplatin Treatment for Skin Tumors in Horses
by Robert N. Oglesby DVM

Cisplatin (cisplatinum or cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II)) is a platinum-based chemotherapy drug used to treat various types of skin cancers of horses, including melanomas, sarcoma, carcinoma, lymphomas, and germ cell tumors. It was the first member of its class, which now also includes carboplatin and oxaliplatin.

Though cisplatin has shown efficacy against a number of tumors in small studies, the size of the studies, the many varied ways of preparing the cisplatin, dosages, and a myriad of other problems makes evaluation difficult. In 2007 a very large study that standardizes preparation and administration. Using much of the recent research to maximize effectiveness and minimize reactions the results are a surprisingly successful long term results against the most common yet sometimes difficult to treat tumors of horses.

But there are 2 flies in the ointment here. The first is the particular formulation used here (Matrix Pharmaceuticals a division of Novartis) is not readily available and as near as I can research, it is still in the approval process with the FDA and would be difficult to formulate. The second fly is the safe handling of cisplatin requires education. That said I would hope the tremendous results here spur development of this product and in tough tumor cases might well be worth pursuing.