Researchers at Tampa-based University of South Florida and Bloomington-based Indiana University found cisplatin is linked to increased hearing loss.
The study, published June 6 in JAMA Oncology, tracked 100 testicular cancer survivors for an average of 14 years who received cisplatin-based chemotherapy. The study found 78% of survivors experienced significant listening difficulties.
Cisplatin is commonly used in chemotherapy for a variety of cancers. The ears are particularly vulnerable to damage from treatment as they have little ability to filter out the drug, causing it to become trapped, according to a June 27 University of South Florida news release. This can lead to inflammation and destruction of sensory cells, causing hearing loss that can get worse after treatments are complete. Higher doses of cisplatin led to more severe and progressing hearing loss.
"Most patients still do not get their hearing tested prior to, during or after chemotherapy," lead author Victoria Sanchez, PhD, an associate professor in the USF Health Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, said in the release. "Our study highlights the need for regular auditory evaluations to manage and mitigate long-term hearing damage."
According to the American Cancer Society, other platinum chemotherapy drugs, such as carboplatin, can also cause damage to the cochlea in the inner ear and lead to hearing loss.
This is the first study to measure real-world listening challenges and hearing loss progression in cancer survivors over a long period, according to the release.