Systemic chemotherapy for lung cancer is usually a platinum-containing two-drug combination regimen. A recent meta-analysis in 2013 did not show an efficacy advantage for cisplatin over carboplatin, but the common side effects of cisplatin, such as nausea and vomiting, can be distressing, especially in middle-aged and older women. The article analyzed 3973 patients who received platinum-containing regimens of chemotherapy, and there was no statistical difference in overall survival or 1-year survival rates. Cisplatin did not differ when combined with paclitaxel or gemcitabine, although the overall response rate was higher. In comparison, cisplatin nausea and vomiting were more severe, carboplatin thrombocytopenia and neurotoxicity were more pronounced, and anemia, leukopenia, alopecia and nephrotoxicity did not differ. In short, for chemotherapy of lung cancer, the choice of cisplatin or carboplatin for platinum drugs is at this stage also considered more from the perspective of side effects rather than just efficacy anymore.