Platinum concentrations in human autopsy tumor samples

Platinum concentrations were determined in autopsy tumor samples obtained from 27 patients who had received cisplatin 40-1,029 mg/m² from 0 to 240 days antemortem. Liver metastases had significantly higher platinum concentrations than did tumors in other sites (p < 0.005). Platinum concentrations in liver metastases were similar to platinum concentrations in normal liver. Platinum concentrations in gliomas and brain metastases were similar to platinum concentrations in other extrahepatic tumors. Platinum concentration generally decreased with increasing distance into brain from tumor. By multiple stepwise linear regression analysis, the factors that were independently most closely associated with tumor platinum concentration were time from last cisplatin treatment, cumulative lifetime dose of cisplatin, route of cisplatin administration (intraarterial vs. other), and site of tumor deposit (liver vs. other) (r = 0.69, p < 0.001). Patients whose tumors had responded to cisplatin-containing regimens had mean tumor platinum concentrations that were higher than the mean tumor platinum concentrations in patients whose tumors had not responded to cisplatin (p < 0.05).