Platinum agents in prostate cancer

The standard first-line treatment for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is docetaxel chemotherapy. Platinum drugs, including cisplatin and carboplatin, when used as single agents and in combinations, have shown a moderate response in metastatic CRPC patients, as both first-and second-line treatment. Furthermore, the relationship between neuroendocrine differentiation and castration-resistant disease progression suggests that there may be a possible role for platinum agents. Newer platinum analogs, including picoplatin, oxaliplatin, and satraplatin have been recently studied in CRPC. Though a Phase III trial demonstrated a progression-free survival benefit favoring satraplatin plus prednisone versus prednisone alone, no overall survival benefit was demonstrated in the second-line setting. Further trials will be needed to demonstrate a clear role for platinum agents in CRPC.