Medical treatments

Platinum cancer medicines

Platinum compounds have an established role in chemotherapy. Cisplatin, introduced in the 1970s, is used to treat testicular, ovarian, bladder, lung and other cancers. Carboplatin and oxaliplatin were developed to extend treatment options and improve tolerability or effectiveness for particular cancers. Oxaliplatin is widely used in colorectal cancer treatment.

These medicines form links with DNA that disrupt replication and can lead to cell death. This damage has a greater effect on many rapidly dividing cancer cells, although healthy cells can also be affected, which is why platinum chemotherapy can cause significant side effects.

CarboPalladium-103, a radioactive isotope of palladium, is seeing promising applications in the treatment of prostate cancer. A newly emerging added area of research is potential use in the treatment of breast cancer. Here, still using the principles of brachytherapy, small seeds of Palladium-103, which releases very low doses of radiation over the course of two-months, are permanently implanted directly into the centre of the tumour. The procedure is done in an outpatient setting under local anaesthesia and the patient can go home after a few hours.

Brachytherapy

PGMs are also used in some brachytherapy systems, in which a radioactive source is placed inside or close to a tumour to deliver a localised radiation dose. Platinum may be used as an encapsulation material, while radioisotopes of iridium or palladium can provide the radiation source. The specific material and treatment approach depend on the cancer and clinical protocol.

Neuromodulation for Parkinson's disease

Platinum and platinum-iridium components are used in implanted neurostimulation systems. Electrodes deliver carefully controlled electrical impulses to targeted areas of the brain, helping to manage symptoms such as tremor and rigidity in selected patients with Parkinson’s disease.