Abstract
In rats a maximal tolerated dose of carboplatin (60 mg kg-1, i.v.) caused severe anaemia, leucopenia and thrombocytopenia. These indices of haematological toxicity were also observed with a maximal tolerated dose of cis-platin (6.5 mg kg-1, i.v.), but reductions in blood cell counts were less than those observed with carboplatin. Anaemia was deduced to be the dose-limiting toxicity of carboplatin, since red cell transfusions afforded protection to rats receiving a lethal dose of this compound (80 mg kg-1, i.v.). Anaemia did not appear to be due to an increase in the susceptibility of cis-platin- or carboplatin-exposed red cells to lysis, as concluded from results of osmotic fragility tests. These red cells, when tagged with 51Cr, also did not exhibit reductions in survival time. Administration of 51Cr-labelled control red cells to rats, which had been treated with carboplatin 3 days earlier, resulted in substantial loss of the radiolabel from the circulation, indicating that internal haemorrhaging, as a result of thrombocytopenia, is probably the principle cause of drug-induced anaemia.
Similar content being viewed by others
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Siddik, Z., Boxall, F. & Harrap, K. Haematological toxicity of carboplatin in rats. Br J Cancer 55, 375–379 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1987.75
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1987.75
- Springer Nature Limited
This article is cited by
-
Convection enhanced delivery of carboplatin in combination with radiotherapy for the treatment of brain tumors
Journal of Neuro-Oncology (2011)
-
Pharmacodynamic model for chemotherapy-induced anemia in rats
Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology (2008)
-
Preclinical toxicology and tissue platinum distribution of novel oral antitumour platinum complexes: ammine/amine platinum(IV) dicarboxylates
Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology (1994)
-
Differential antitumor activity and toxicity of isomeric 1,2-diaminocyclohexane platinum (II) complexes
Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology (1993)
-
Assessment of pulmonary and hematologic toxicities of liblomycin, a novel bleomycin analog
Investigational New Drugs (1990)