Innovator and generic cisplatin formulations: comparison of renal toxicity

To compare the incidence and degree of renal toxicity associated with innovator and generic cisplatin formulations, increase in the serum creatinine (CRN) levels (mg/dL) and incidence of grade 2-3 CRN elevation during the first and all cycles of chemotherapy were retrospectively evaluated in patients treated with innovator (group 1, n = 296) and generic (group 2, n = 321) cisplatin formulations. There were no differences in the sex, age, performance status or number of chemotherapy cycles between groups 1 and 2. The median increases in CRN levels during the first cycle were 0.20 mg/dL regardless of the sex or group. There was no difference in the incidence of grade 2-3 CRN elevation between groups 1 and 2 among female or male patients. The median increases in CRN levels during all cycles were 0.2 (0-1.0) and 0.3 (0-1.8) in the female patients of groups 1 and 2, respectively (P = 0.68), and 0.3 (0-2.1) and 0.5 (0-3.6) in the male patients of groups 1 and 2, respectively (P < 0.001). Grade 2-3 CRN elevation was observed in 18.1% and 24.7% of the female patients in groups 1 and 2, respectively (P = 0.33), and 9.4% and 20.9% of the male patients in groups 1 and 2, respectively (P < 0.001). Renal toxicity was slightly more severe in patients treated with the generic cisplatin formulation than in those treated with the innovator formulation, especially among the male patients.