[The search for new antitumor medicines].

Tumor illnesses belong to the major problems of contemporary medicine. A crucial group of medicines used in the antitumor therapy are complexes of platinum (II). The first medicine introduced into the treatment of various tumors was cis-platinum. This compound was first used at the beginning of the 1970s. It is used up to now in the treatment of ovary, esophagus, testicle and neck tumors. The second medicine used in chemotherapy was carboplatin. The medicines mentioned above have a similar method of activity but they differ in toxicity. The main area of research of contemporary medicine is the constant search for new antitumor medicines which would be characterized by a better therapeutic index in comparison with cis-platinum.