Cisplatin-induced Ototoxicity in Children With Solid Tumor

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Oncology
• Ototoxicology
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Cisplatin is a vital chemotherapy agent for pediatric neuroblastoma and hepatoblastoma, significantly improving survival rates.
• Increased survival necessitates attention to long-term chemotherapy side effects, particularly ototoxicity in children.
• Hearing loss from cisplatin can impede crucial childhood development, including language and social skills.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence of cisplatin-induced hearing loss in pediatric cancer patients.
• To identify risk factors associated with cisplatin-based hearing loss.
• To inform audiological management strategies for children undergoing cisplatin chemotherapy.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of patient records from Xinhua Hospital (2005-2017).
• Inclusion criteria: pediatric patients treated with cisplatin for neuroblastoma or hepatoblastoma with audiometric evaluation.
• Data collected included cisplatin dosage (cumulative and single maximum) and audiological outcomes.

Main Results:

• Out of 384 patients, 59 had complete data; 14 (23.7%) experienced significant hearing loss.
• Median time to last audio test was 406 days post-cisplatin treatment.
• Both cumulative cisplatin dose (P=0.012) and single maximum dose (P=0.049) were significant independent predictors of moderate to severe hearing loss.

Conclusions:

• Cisplatin chemotherapy is associated with a notable incidence of significant hearing loss in pediatric cancer patients.
• Accumulated and single high doses of cisplatin are key risk factors for ototoxicity.
• Regular audiological monitoring and long-term follow-up are crucial for children receiving cisplatin to mitigate developmental impacts.