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Cisplatin, a widely-used chemotherapeutic agent for treating many human malignancies. The mechanism of cisplatin, which disrupts cellular DNA and induces cell apoptosis, can effectively cease the spread of cancerous cells and damage normal cells. Hence, many side effects are related to cisplatin-based treatments. Nephrotoxicity, the toxicity it has on kidneys, is a significant side effect of cisplatin. Although doses of cisplatin are carefully examined before giving to the patients, many still experience kidney injuries and insufficiencies to a different extent. Cisplatin not only accumulates in mitochondria and cells in our kidneys, but its highly reactive thiol metabolites can induce even more injury to our body as it is more toxic than cisplatin itself. Human bodies resist cisplatin with inflammatory response and regulation of cytokines, transporter proteins, hormones, and the expression of genes and transcription factors. However, medical treatments that involve Amifostine and saline solution are still used to facilitate the recovery of patients with nephrotoxicity. This article provides a general view of the latest advancement in our understanding of cisplatin, cisplatin nephrotoxicity, and the future outlook on unsolved problems regarding cisplatin nephrotoxicity.
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