Neurotoxicity and ototoxicity of cisplatin plus paclitaxel in comparison to cisplatin plus cyclophosphamide in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the neurotoxicity and ototoxicity of combination cisplatin plus paclitaxel versus cisplatin plus cyclophosphamide using extensive clinical and instrumental evaluation.


METHODS
Forty-six of 51 consecutive patients affected by-epithelial ovarian cancer seen in our institution between October 1994 and August 1995 entered the study. After randomization, they were assigned to receive cisplatin 75 mg/m2 every 3 weeks associated with cyclophosphamide 750 mg/m2 (CC group, n = 22) or paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 over a 3-hour infusion (CP group, n = 24). Treatment was repeated six times in 43 patients and nine times in 25. Before treatment and after three, six, and nine courses of chemotherapy, patients underwent clinical and instrumental neurologic and otologic examinations.


RESULTS
Mild sensory impairment was evident even after only three courses of both treatments and signs and symptoms were more severe at the end of treatment. On clinical grounds only, it was possible to demonstrate after six and nine courses a difference between CC and CP treatment, due to the involvement in some CP patients of pain and thermal sensory modalities. However, the overall severity of the neuropathy was similar. Audiometric parameters demonstrated a more negative outcome after treatment in CC compared with CP patients. However, the different severity of the involvement was closely correlated to this initial difference in audiologic performance.


CONCLUSIONS
Up to nine courses of chemotherapy, the CC and CP schedules are similar in terms of severity of neurotoxicity and ototoxicity when patients are evaluated during and immediately after treatment. With the doses used in our study, these toxicities are not dose-limiting. Our results suggest that most of the toxic effects observed during the treatment were due to cisplatin.
Cavaletti
G
G
Department of Neurology, S. Gerardo Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Monza, Italy.
Bogliun
G
G
Crespi
V
V
Marzorati
L
L
Zincone
A
A
Marzola
M
M
Rota
S
S
Galli
A
A
Tredici
P
P
Tredici
G
G
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000009:adverse effects; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000009:adverse effects; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006309:Hearing / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000009:adverse effects; D017933:Peripheral Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects*
D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D017239:Paclitaxel; D002945:Cisplatin