ACUTE RENAL TOXICITY ASSOCIATED WITH SURAMIN IN THE TREATMENT OF PROSTATE-CANCER

The use of suramin, a polysulfonated naphthylurea, in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer currently is being investigated. A 52-year-o ld man developed acute renal dysfunction after receiving nine doses of suramin. His suramin therapy was discontinued, but his serum creatini ne level continued to rise to 10.8 mg/dl during the next 6 days. The p atient was not rechallenged with suramin, and his renal function retur ned to baseline within the next 3 weeks. Future investigators of this drug should be aware of the possibility of such a reaction with parent eral administration.