Molecular mechanisms behind the resistance of cisplatin in germ cell tumours

Abstract

Cisplatin has been one of the principal chemotherapy agents for the last 30 years and is still used widely in the treatment of testicular, ovarian, lung, head and neck, bladder and several other tumours. Resistance to chemotherapeutic agents is a major obstacle for successful treatment. Treatment effect on germ cell tumours (GCTs) is more successful than in adults suffering from almost any other solid tumour, but resistance still appears in 20% of patients with metastatic disease. However, because of the young age of patients and few data regarding the process of becoming resistant, this situation is still a challenge. In this review we are going to analyse the published literature on cisplatin resistance in GCTs and explain the initiatives that the Spanish Germ Cell Cancer Group (GG) is taking to try to elucidate the molecular mechanisms behind this process.