Renal toxicity is a prominent component of the toxicity profile of platinum-based chemotherapy. Kidney damage, once dose limiting for cisplatin, occurs in some patients who receive carboplatin and may occur with the third-generation platinum analog ormaplatin. Herein, we review what is known about the pathophysiology of therapy-induced renal toxicity for each of these agents and what is known about appropriate maneuvers to circumvent this toxicity. For cisplatin, hydration is always indicated and mannitol may be useful in selected settings. Furosemide is probably not generally useful. For carboplatin, hydration is important for patients with impaired renal function and for patients receiving high doses of drug (> or = 800 mg/m2). For ormplatin, renal toxicity appears not be prominent when hydration is administered in a fashion similar to cisplatin hydration. Detailed suggestions regarding the protection of kidney function when using these compounds are presented.