Platinum-Based Drugs in Cancer Treatment: Expanding Horizons and Overcoming Resistance

•Molecular target and mechanism of action of platinum-based drugs to target identification (TID) in the early stages of drug discovery were showed.•The structures of platinum complexes in anti-cancer medications for the treatment of different types of cancer were Explained.•Molecular mechanisms responsible for conventional platinum (II) complexes resistance including cisplatin, carboplatin, oxaliplatin, nedaplatin, and lobaplatin in tumors were discussed.•Functionalization of the platinum complexes to enhance chemotherapy efficacy through the advancement of chemotherapeutics based on Pt(II) and Pt(IV) with a range of bioactive ligands was explained.•Identification of the types of interactions between platinum-based drugs and human blood proteins for understanding how they can interact together and potentially can be used to improve drug delivery for cancer therapy