Carboplatin
A platinum drug for ovarian and lung cancer that is gentler than cisplatin on kidneys, nerves and ears but harder on the bone marrow.
Drug card
- Class
- Platinum compound
- How it works
- Binding DNA through platinum to form cross-links that block replication
- Used for
- Advanced ovarian cancer, first-line and on relapse
- Non-small cell lung cancer
- Known for
- Bone marrow suppression, especially low platelets
- Its name
- -platin means a platinum anticancer drug
Study it as a flashcard, and it comes back before you forget it.
Mechanism of action
How does carboplatin work?
Like cisplatin, it forms DNA cross-links, mostly between strands, but its activation by aquation is slower, so it is less potent per milligram. Compared with cisplatin it causes less vomiting, nerve, ear and kidney damage and magnesium loss, but more marrow suppression, especially low platelets.
Like other platinum compounds: Platinum compounds carry a platinum atom instead of alkyl groups, yet act much like alkylating agents. Inside the cell they form reactive platinum complexes that bind DNA, making adducts and cross-links within and between strands. The damaged DNA cannot be copied or read properly, so the cell stops dividing and dies by apoptosis.
Uses
What is carboplatin used for?
- Advanced ovarian cancer, first-line and on relapse
- Non-small cell lung cancer
Side effects
Side effects of carboplatin
- Bone marrow suppression, especially low plateletsKnown forSerious
- Bleeding from low plateletsSerious
- Anemia, which can build up
- Nausea and vomiting
- Anaphylaxis-like reactions within minutesSerious
- Low magnesium and sodium
- Low potassium and calcium
- Peripheral neuropathy (infrequent)
- Hearing loss, mainly in children at high dosesSerious
- Hemolytic anemia and hemolytic-uremic syndromeSerious
- Raised liver enzymes
- Vision loss at very high dosesSerious
Known for marks what an exam expects you to know it for.
Watch for
Cautions and what sets it apart
- Check blood counts often; do not repeat a course until neutrophils and platelets recover.
- Contraindicated after severe allergy to cisplatin or other platinum drugs.
- Kidney impairment deepens marrow suppression, and aminoglycosides add kidney and ear toxicity.
- It lowers phenytoin levels, which can bring on seizures; aluminum needles or sets inactivate it.
Good to know: Its dose is usually worked out from kidney function (the Calvert formula) rather than body surface area.
Remember it
A way to remember it
NOVEL
- N
- Nephrotoxicity (kidney damage)
- O
- Ototoxicity (hearing loss, tinnitus)
- V
- Vomiting, severe with cisplatin
- E
- Electrolyte loss, especially magnesium
- L
- Limb nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy)
Five platinum toxicities, all worst with cisplatin; carboplatin causes fewer of them but more marrow suppression.
Written for biofideX
Its name
-platin means platinum anticancer drug
Cisplatin, carboplatin and oxaliplatin carry platinum and cross-link DNA. Cisplatin is known for kidney and nerve damage, carboplatin for bone marrow suppression and allergic reactions.
- Every drug name stem
Its class
Platinum compounds
Other platinum compounds with a card:
Easily mixed up with alkylating agents.
Sources
Checked against
Written for biofideX in plain words, after checking these references:
For learning pharmacology, not for treatment decisions: no doses are given, and a prescriber, pharmacist or the product's own label is the word on any one patient. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we'll correct it.
Cancer chemotherapy
Carboplatin is one of 9 drugs practiced together here: their classes, how they work, what they treat and what they're known for.
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