Fluorophore-Tagged Cisplatin

Case ID:

STRR-01

Web Published:

7/20/2009

Description:

Many types of cancer, including carcinomas, lymphomas, sarcomas, and others, are treated with the chemotherapy agent Cisplatin. Based on the element platinum, cisplatin causes apoptosis in cancer cells by cross-linking their DNA. Like many chemotherapy agents, Cisplatin's effectiveness could be improved by better understanding how the body moves it around internally, so that it can be better targeted to cancer cells and thus protect normal cells from its effect.

PSU researchers invented a fluorescently tagged cisplatin molecule that has been shown by collaborators at Oregon Health and Science University to be bioactive and detectable within cell types in the inner ear, the kidney, and other organs after systemic administration. The tagged cisplatin molecules can be used to identify other molecules that interact with cisplatin and to reveal intracellular mechanisms of cytotoxicity or protection. The fluorescently tagged cisplatin promised to be a valuable research tool to advance the more effective use of of cisplatin.