Abstract
Platinum compounds are a group of chemotherapeutic agents included in many pediatric and adult oncologic treatment protocols. The main platinum compounds are cisplatin, carboplatin, and oxaliplatin. Their use in clinical practice has greatly improved long-term survival of pediatric patients, but they also cause some toxic effects: ototoxicity, myelosuppression, nephrotoxicity, and neurotoxicity. Hearing damage is one of the main toxic effects of platinum compounds, and it derives from the degeneration of hair cells of the ear, which, not having self-renewal capacity, cannot reconstitute themselves. Hearing loss from platinum exposure is typically bilateral, sensorineural, and permanent, and it is caused by the same mechanisms with which platinum acts on neoplastic cells. According to available data from the literature, the optimal timing for the audiological test during and after treatment with platinum compounds is not well defined. Moreover, no substances capable of preventing the onset of hearing loss have been identified.
Highlights
Platinum compounds are a group of chemotherapeutic agents included in many pediatric and adult oncologic treatment protocols
Platinum compounds represent a cornerstone in the treatment of many different childhood cancer types, and their use has dramatically improved survival
They can determine toxic effects including hearing damage, which is an important problem for patients in the pediatric age group
Summary
Platinum compounds are a group of chemotherapeutic agents included in many pediatric and adult oncologic treatment protocols. The main platinum compounds are cisplatin, carboplatin, and oxaliplatin. They exert their action by covalent binding to purine DNA bases, resulting in interference with normal DNA function [2,3]. Oxaliplatin is able to penetrate erythrocytes and remains there longer than in plasma On this basis, O’Dwyer et al (2000) reported that red blood cells can probably represent a drug reservoir [5,19]. Carboplatin, and oxaliplatin are all compounds obtained from platinum and have some similar pharmacodynamic characteristics; they each present specific antineoplastic activity and are used in different treatment protocols for tumors both of pediatric and adult population
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