Risk factors for the development of severe cisplatin neurotoxicity

Cisplatin sensory neuropathy is not equally severe in all patients and may progress even after drug withdrawal. A major goal in cisplatin chemotherapy would be the identification of early predictors of an unfavorable neurological outcome in order to adjust the schedules of administration. The final neurological outcome of 63 women treated with the same schedule of cisplatin (CDDP) was compared with the general demographic and oncological parameters and with the baseline neurological results. No definite association could be drawn between any of the parameters evaluated and peripheral neuropathy. Further studies are needed to investigate the individual factors which are at the basis of the remarkable variability of this severe side effect of CDDP.