Investigations on the acute and chronic nephrotoxicity of the new platinum analogue carboplatin

Summary

In order to detect even subclinical hints of nephrotoxicity after application of carboplatin, sensitive non-invasive methods, e.g. determination of urinary enzyme (lactate dehydrogenase, leucine aminopeptidase,γ-glutamyltransferase,N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase), glomerular and tubular protein excretion (albumin,α-1-microglobulin) and determination of the creatinine clearance, were used. Eighteen patients with small-cell lung cancer entered the study. All patients were treated with the three-drug combination chemotherapy: vincristine (1.5 mg i.v. on days 1, 8, 15, 22), etopside (escalating doses: 100–160 mg/m² on days 1–3) and carboplatin (300 mg/m² day 1). Investigations were made during the first, third and fifth treatment cycles. Deterioration of renal function occurred in 4 out of 18 patients in all three observed treatment courses. Abnormal amounts in the excretion of at least one of four urinary enzymes were found in 6 out of 18 patients during the first cycle and in 4 out of 8 patients during the third and fifth cycles. All patients with pathological enzymuria during the first treatment course also developed an increased enzymuria during cycles 3 and 5. Four patients developed pathological proteinuria during the first and 2 patients during the third and fifth cycles. These findings demonstrate that the new platinum analogue, carboplatin, is capable of inducing renal damage. In comparison with cisplatinum, the nephrotoxicity of this new analogue is reduced but not completely eliminated.