Carboplatin is a second-generation platinum an tineoplastic agent. It
has biological activity similar to cisplatin and is currently recommen
ded for the treatment of ovarian cancer. In clinical use, carboplatin
appears less ototoxic than cisplatin. This paper reports the ototoxic
effects of carboplatin, in doses equivalent to the clinical use of the
drug, in the chinchilla. Intravenous carboplatin 200 to 400 mg/m(2) b
y bolus injection caused significant ototoxicity in this model as reve
aled by brainstem evoked responses (ABR audiometry). The cochlear path
ology as seen by scanning electron microscopy revealed predominantly i
nner hair cell (IHC) stereocilia damage. Furthermore, the extent (grad
e) of the morphological lesions appears to be well correlated with the
auditory brainstem response pattern of threshold elevation.