Platinum neurotoxicity: clinical profiles, experimental models and neuroprotective approaches

This paper reviews the neurotoxic side-effects associated with platinum dru gs, experimental approaches to studying this toxicity and attempts to use n europrotective agents in conjunction with platinum drugs. Platinum drugs di ffer in their neurotoxicity profiles in patients. The frequency, severity, mode of onset and reversibility of peripheral nerve toxicity varies between different platinum analogues. Animal models, primary cultures of dorsal ro ot ganglia neurons and tumour cell-lines of neuronal origin are being used in attempts to identify potential treatments for platinum-induced neurotoxi city. To date, clinical trials have been hampered by the poor tolerance of neuroprotective treatments and failure to achieve reversal of platinum drug neurotoxicity with thiols, neurotrophic factors or calcium channel blocker s. (C)1999 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.