Cisplatin-associated ototoxicity amongst cervical cancer patients: A prospective cohort study in south Africa

Concurrent chemoradiotherapy using weekly cisplatin remains standard of care for locally advanced cervical cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa. While cisplatin remains a popular cancer chemotherapeutic, it has an irreversible ototoxic effect on patients' auditory system. However, there is a paucity of epidemiological information on its extent and severity during cervical cancer treatment. In a region with a high burden of cervical cancer, this has serious consequences for aural intervention and rehabilitation.

Using a prospective cohort study design, 82 patients with incident cervical cancer, receiving weekly cisplatin chemotherapy (50 mg/m2 body surface) at a tertiary level hospital in KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa, underwent audiological assessments at various intervals. We describe the temporal impact of cisplatin exposure on hearing loss, its combined effect with HIV-infection, and estimate ototoxicity incidence in this cohort. The median age was 52 years with Stages IIB (45%) and IIIB (35.4%) cancers being most common. Complaints of reduced hearing sensitivity increased significantly (p<0.0001). Bilateral, asymmetrical sensorineural hearing loss, with greater effect in the extended high-frequency range, was evident. Cisplatin dosage was significantly associated with ototoxicity severity at one- (p = 0.017), three- (p = 0.010), and six-month (p = 0.015) post-treatment follow-up. HIV-seropositivity (53.7%) was significantly associated with NCI-CTCAE Grading Scale at three- (p = 0.022) and six-months (p = 0.023) post-treatment. Multiple Tobit regression revealed a cumulative dose effect bilaterally, after adjustment for age and HIV status, evident from 9000Hz and above in the right ear, while a plateau effect was observed at 250mg/m2 in the left ear. The incidence was ototoxicity was 98% at a cumulative dose of 150mg/m2.

The findings of this epidemiologic study highlight the temporal course and severity of ototoxicity experienced by cervical cancer patients treated with cisplatin, with greater impact in HIV-positive subgroup, thus underscores the need for audiological monitoring and timely interventions in this cohort.