Preventing cisplatin induced ototoxicity by N-acetylcysteine and salicylate

In this study we investigated if CP induced ototoxicity could be prevented or reduced by the use of salicylate and N-acetylcysteine.

Fifty-four patients (28 females, 26 males; mean age 37+/-9.5 years; range 29 to 71 years) who had cisplatin chemotherapy due to solid organ tumors were enrolled in the study. The patients were randomized into three groups, with 18 patients in each group. The first group (control group) received cisplatin, second group received N-acetylcysteine (NAC; 600 mg/day) with cisplatin and the third group received salicylate (300 mg/day) with cisplatin. All patients evaluated audiologically including high frequency audiometry and auditory brainstem response.

The cisplatin-induced ototoxic damage could be reduced in 10,000 and 12,000 Hz frequencies when N-acetylcysteine was added to the cisplatin therapy protocol. There was no decrease in the hearing loss levels of the patients who were receiving cisplatin with salicylate.

According to auditory brainstem response testing results, there was no difference detected between N-acetylcysteine or salicylate for the amelioration of cisplatin induced ototoxicity.