Cisplatin is a metal coordination compound that was approved for clinical use in treating testicular cancer 5 years ago. Although early trials showed marked gastrointestinal and renal toxicities, treatment-related morbidity has been significantly alleviated with modern antiemetic therapy and adequate pretreatment hydration. More recent clinical studies of cisplatin have shown a broad range of activity and provide a better understanding of the drug's pharmacology, mechanism of action, and toxicity. Variations in the dosage and mode of administration as well as development of cisplatin analogues are being currently studied.