Speciation of platinum compounds: a review of recent applications in studies of platinum anticancer drugs

This is a review of investigations involving speciation studies of five important platinum-containing drugs used in cancer treatments. The information presented here is drawn from recent reports published during the period 1995–1999. The work includes detection, separations and identifications of degradation and biotransformation products. In addition, important information is reported on the number and nature of products of reactions of platinum anticancer drugs with thiol compounds. HPLC is employed effectively for separations of reaction products in speciation investigations. Information derived from speciation is very helpful in studies of pharmacokinetics as well as side effects and toxicities of the drugs as they are administered to patients.