Hearing
Prevention
More recent radiation therapy (RT) techniques such as using protons help to prevent ototoxicity. Protons have the ability to spare the cochlea and reduce the risk of damage to the cochlea.3
Avoiding the administration of other ototoxic drugs such as chelating agents and aminoglycosides is helpful.
Also patients should not be exposed to loud noises.16
Potential Protective Agents:
Sodium thiosulfate:
- Tested by the Children's Oncology Group with patients receiving cisplatin therapy.
- Preclinical data shows that this antioxidant has the potential to provide oto-protection without affecting cytotoxicity26
Amifostine:
- Limited testing2
- Phase 3 randomized trial on 242 adult patients with ovarian cancer treated with cyclophosphamide showed a 43% lower incidence of auditory toxicity when amifostine was used.11
- Two MAIN side effects2
- Hypocalcemia
- Hypotension
- Minor side effects12
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Sneezing
- Hiccups
- Warmth
- Somnolence
- Metallic taste
- Occasional allergic reaction
