Concurrent Weekly Cisplatin Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy in a Haemodialysis Patient with Locally Advanced Cervix Cancer

Abstract

Aims Concurrent cisplatin chemo-radiotherapy improves outcome in cervical carcinoma. In haemodialysis patients, cisplatin is potentially hazardous. We report the treatment of a haemodialysis patient with cervix cancer using cisplatin-based chemo-radiation. Mathematical modelling using toxicity data from a range of cisplatin dosages and schedules reported in published studies was undertaken. Materials and methods The patient was treated using weekly cisplatin chemotherapy 25 mg/m 2. The serum platinum levels were measured. Correlations between reported toxicity and platinum levels for a variety of cisplatin schedules in published studies were evaluated. Results Treatment was completed with no interruptions and minimum acute toxicity. The platinum levels rose progressively. The elimination half-life was prolonged at 6.6–7.5 days. The percentage extraction varied between 7.7 and 41.0%. The cumulative cisplatin dose correlated with neurotoxicity ( P = 0.002). Myelotoxicity correlated with the peak cisplatin level in the first 15 days of treatment ( P = 0.01). With an elimination half-life of 7.5 days, 35 mg/m 2 weekly is predicted to have the same risk of myelotoxicity and neurotoxicity as 40 mg/m 2 weekly in a patient with normal renal function. Conclusions Weekly cisplatin chemotherapy 25 mg/m 2 can be delivered safely in a haemodialysis patient. Dialysis is effective in eliminating platinum even if carried out more than 3 h after infusion, but it should commence as soon as possible after cisplatin infusion, as the incidence of myelotoxicity is related to the peak platinum level.