Novel platinum-N-heterocyclic carbene complex is more cardiotoxic than cis-platin in rats.

Cis-platin and other platinum complexes are important chemotherapeutic agents useful in the treatment of several cancers. However, therapeutic usage of cis-platin and other platinum complex are limited by their undesirable side effects including cardiotoxicity. In this context, we aimed to compare the damage caused in heart by cis-platin and novel platinum-N-heterocyclic carbene (Pt-NHC) complex. For this purpose, 35 Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into five equal groups (n = 7 for each group). Cis-platin and novel Pt-NHC complex were intraperitoneally administered at a single dose of 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg and then sacrificed 10 days after this treatment. The heart tissues were taken from all rats for determination of oxidative and myocardial damage. Cis-platin and novel Pt-NHC complex caused oxidative and histological damage in the heart tissue in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05). On the other hand, at the same dose levels, cis-platin caused lower oxidative and histological damage in heart tissue compared to novel Pt-NHC complex. These results suggest that novel Pt-NHC complex is more cardiotoxic than cis-platin.