Progressive hearing loss after completion of cisplatin chemotherapy is common and more pronounced in children without spontaneous otoacoustic emissions before chemotherapy

Global burden of ototoxic hearing loss associated with platinum-based cancer treatment: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Platinum-based chemotherapeutic agents cisplatin and carboplatin are widely used in cancer treatment worldwide and may result in ototoxic hearing loss. The high incidence of cancer and salient ototoxic effects of platinum-based compounds pose a global public health threat. The purpose of this study was twofold. First, to estimate the prevalence of ototoxic hearing loss associated with treatment with cisplatin and/or carboplatin via a systematic review and meta-analysis. Second, to estimate the annual global burden of ototoxic hearing loss associated with exposure to cisplatin and/or carboplatin. For the systematic review, three databases were searched (Ovid Medline, Ovid Embase, and Web of Science Core Collection) and studies that reported prevalence of objectively measured ototoxic hearing loss in cancer patients were included. A random effects meta-analysis determined pooled prevalence (95% confidence intervals [CI]) of ototoxic hearing loss overall, and estimates were stratified by treatment and patient attributes. Estimates of ototoxic hearing loss burden were created with published global estimates of incident cancers often treated with platinum-based compounds and cancer-specific treatment rates. Eighty-seven records (n = 5077 individuals) were included in the meta-analysis. Pooled prevalence of ototoxic hearing loss associated with cisplatin and/or carboplatin exposure was 43.17% [CI 37.93–48.56%]. Prevalence estimates were higher for regimens involving cisplatin (cisplatin only: 49.21% [CI 42.62–55.82%]; cisplatin & carboplatin: 56.05% [CI 45.12–66.43%]) versus carboplatin only (13.47% [CI 8.68–20.32%]). Our crude estimates of burden indicated approximately one million individuals worldwide are likely exposed to cisplatin and/or carboplatin, which would result in almost half a million cases of hearing loss per year, globally. There is an urgent need to reduce impacts of ototoxicity in cancer patients. This can be partially achieved by implementing existing strategies focused on primary, secondary, and tertiary hearing loss prevention. Primary ototoxicity prevention via otoprotectants should be a research and policy priority.

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An estimated one million people are exposed to chemotherapeutic drugs per year.

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An estimated half a million cases of hearing loss per year are from chemotherapy.

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Hearing loss prevalence after exposure to cisplatin and/or carboplatin is 43%.

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Primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of hearing loss should be prioritized.

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Ototoxic hearing loss prevention is a global public health priority.

Effects of chemotherapy on the auditory system of children with cancer: a systematic literature review

ABSTRACT Purpose: to identify and analyze the effects of chemotherapy on the auditory system of children and/or adolescents with cancer treated with cisplatin and carboplatin, assessed through standardized audiological procedures. Methods: studies in Brazilian Portuguese and in English were searched for, as available in the databases Science Direct, PubMed, LILACS, BIREME, Embase, SciELO, Web of Science and Cochrane. The descriptors were: Hearing Loss, Audiology, Child Cancer, Chemotherapy, and Child. Articles with levels 1 and 2 of scientific evidence, published in the last 20 years (1997 to 2017), were considered, of which the audiological results were analyzed, as well as the prevalence of hearing loss in children with cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Results: 3,625 articles were found, of which only 23 were selected for analysis in the present review. Studies have shown a high incidence of sensorineural hearing loss and decrease or even loss of otoacoustic emissions in children and adolescents with cancer, even after the first dose of chemotherapy drugs, with high frequencies being the most affected. Conclusion: there is evidence that both carboplatin and especially cisplatin from the first doses may impair the hearing of children and adolescents, mainly affecting the cochlear function, thus, the importance of long-term audiological monitoring.

Genetic Determinants of Ototoxicity During and After Childhood Cancer Treatment: Protocol for the PanCareLIFE Study

Background

Survival rates after childhood cancer now reach nearly 80% in developed countries. However, treatments that lead to survival and cure can cause serious adverse effects with lifelong negative impacts on survivor quality of life. Hearing impairment is a common adverse effect in children treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy or cranial radiotherapy. Ototoxicity can extend from high-tone hearing impairment to involvement of speech frequencies. Hearing impairment can impede speech and language and neurocognitive development. Although treatment-related risk factors for hearing loss following childhood cancer treatment have been identified, the individual variability in toxicity of adverse effects after similar treatment between childhood cancer patients suggests a role for genetic susceptibility. Currently, 12 candidate gene approach studies have been performed to identify polymorphisms predisposing to platinum-induced ototoxicity in children being treated for cancer. However, results were inconsistent and most studies were underpowered and/or lacked replication.

Objective

We describe the design of the PanCareLIFE consortium’s work packages that address the genetic susceptibility of platinum-induced ototoxicity.

Methods

As a part of the PanCareLIFE study within the framework of the PanCare consortium, we addressed genetic susceptibility of treatment-induced ototoxicity during and after childhood cancer treatment in a large European cohort by a candidate gene approach and a genome-wide association screening.

Results

This study included 1124 survivors treated with cisplatin, carboplatin, or cranial radiotherapy for childhood cancer, resulting in the largest clinical European cohort assembled for this late effect to date. Within this large cohort we defined a group of 598 cisplatin-treated childhood cancer patients not confounded by cranial radiotherapy. The PanCareLIFE initiative provided, for the first time, a unique opportunity to confirm already identified determinants for hearing impairment during childhood cancer using a candidate gene approach and set up the first international genome-wide association study of cisplatin-induced direct ototoxicity in childhood cancer patients to identify novel allelic variants. Results will be validated in an independent replication cohort. Patient recruitment started in January 2015 and final inclusion was October 2017. We are currently performing the analyses and the first results are expected by the end of 2019 or the beginning of 2020. 

Conclusions

Genetic factors identified as part of this pan-European project, PanCareLIFE, may contribute to future risk prediction models that can be incorporated in future clinical trials of platinum-based therapies for cancer and may help with the development of prevention strategies.

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/11868

Asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss is a risk factor for late-onset hearing loss in pediatric cancer survivors following cisplatin treatment

BACKGROUND

Ototoxicity is a significant complication of cisplatin treatment. Hearing loss can be symmetric or asymmetric, and may decline after therapy. This study examined the risks of asymmetric and late-onset hearing loss (LOHL) in cisplatin-treated pediatric patients with cancer.

METHODS

A retrospective review of 993 patients' medical and audiological charts from August 1990 to March 2015 was conducted using stringent criteria to characterize patients with asymmetric hearing loss (AHL) or LOHL. Audiologic data were reviewed for 248 patients that received cisplatin to assess cisplatin-induced sensorineural hearing loss and its associated risk factors.

RESULTS

Of the patients evaluable for AHL, 26% exhibited this finding. Of those evaluable for LOHL, 42% of the patients' hearing worsened more than 6 months after therapy completion. Radiation and type of cancer diagnosis were major risk factors for both AHL and LOHL. Furthermore, LOHL was linked to age of diagnosis, noncranial radiation, and longer audiologic follow-up. AHL was strongly associated with LOHL-60% of patients with AHL also had LOHL. Logistic regression analysis revealed that patients with AHL (OR 6.3, 95% CI: 2.2-17.8, P = 0.0005) or those receiving radiation (OR 3.2, 95% CI: 1.2-8.6, P = 0.02) were at greatest risk for LOHL.

CONCLUSION

Children receiving cisplatin therapy are at risk for developing AHL and LOHL. Those that have received radiation and/or with AHL are at increased risk for further hearing decline. Long-term monitoring of these patients is important for early intervention as hearing diminishes.

PanCareLIFE: The scientific basis for a European project to improve long-term care regarding fertility, ototoxicity and health-related quality of life after cancer occurring among children and adolescents

AIMS

Survival after cancer diagnosed during childhood or adolescence continues to improve with new treatments and supportive therapies. Optimal long-term care requires that risks to vulnerable organs are clearly defined and translated into guidelines that are implemented into practice. PanCareLIFE is a pan-European consortium that addresses survivorship issues comprising fertility, hearing impairment and quality of life. This article describes the scientific basis of PanCareLIFE's studies.

METHODS

PanCareLIFE involves 17 partner institutions from eight European countries, with additional 11 data providers from five other countries. Study designs and methods include molecular genetic, cohort and case-control studies, a longitudinal study and an intervention study. Ethics and data protection issues have been taken into account from the beginning.

RESULTS

PanCareLIFE will investigate the way that treatment impairs female fertility, by evaluating anti-Müllerian hormone levels and the underlying genetic susceptibility to loss of fertility. For our fertility studies, more than 6000 survivors have completed questionnaires, more than 1500 provided serum samples and more than 400 case-control triads have been identified. Fertility preservation guidelines for boys and girls will be developed. More than 2000 survivors have contributed audiograms for the ototoxicity study. Almost 1000 samples were sent for genetic analysis related to ototoxicity and gonadal reserve. The SF-36 questionnaire will measure quality of life in more than 10,000 survivors.

CONCLUSIONS

The large number of subjects enrolled in PanCareLIFE and the detailed information accumulated will allow in-depth evaluation of important outcomes. Fertility preservation guidelines will help patients and their families make informed decisions and contribute to their long-term well-being.

Medicações ototóxicas utilizadas no tratamento oncológico pediátrico: uma revisão sistemática

RESUMO Objetivo Fazer um levantamento dos medicamentos ototóxicos utilizados no tratamento do câncer pediátrico, apontar os danos das drogas para o sistema auditivo e os métodos utilizados na identificação destes danos nessa população. Estratégia de pesquisa: Foram utilizados periódicos nacionais e internacionais pertinentes ao assunto, acessados eletronicamente em bases de dados da Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde - MS, PubMed, Biblioteca Digital Brasileira de Teses e Dissertações, que envolvessem a população pediátrica com histórico de tratamento oncológico, publicados entre 2007 e 2016, e no Banco de Teses e Dissertações da Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior. Critérios de seleção Foram selecionados estudos que contemplassem os seguintes critérios: estudos observacionais nas línguas portuguesa, inglesa ou espanhola e resumos disponíveis que informassem o método de avaliação do dano auditivo. Resultados A amostra final resultou em 12 artigos. Destes, a audiometria tonal limiar foi o método de avaliação auditiva mais utilizado, estando presente em 10 (84,61%) dos estudos, seguido das emissões otoacústicas (46,15%). Todos os estudos foram desenvolvidos com pacientes que fizeram uso de cisplatina ou derivados da platina e, quanto ao dano auditivo, apenas 1 dos estudos incluídos não relatou presença de alteração na população estudada. Conclusão Os derivados da platina expressam papel importante no tratamento do câncer em diversos níveis e são os agentes ototóxicos mais citados em pesquisas. A cóclea é o local mais afetado, mais especificamente as células ciliadas externas. Os métodos de investigação da alteração auditiva mais utilizados são a audiometria tonal limiar e as emissões otoacústicas.

Drug-induced ototoxicity: Mechanisms, Pharmacogenetics, and protective strategies

Drug ototoxicity limits the quality of life of patients after treatment, having serious consequences, especially for psychosocial development of children. Although the ototoxicity of many drugs resolves after treatment discontinuation, the use of platinum derivatives and aminoglycosides is associated with permanent hearing loss. In this review, we have listed ototoxic drugs and the mechanisms by which they damage the ears. Moreover, possible protective strategies and important methods for early detection of ototoxic effects are discussed.

Evaluation and Management of Hearing Loss in Survivors of Childhood and Adolescent Cancers: A Report From the Children's Oncology Group

Hearing loss (HL) is common in childhood cancer survivors exposed to platinum chemotherapy and/or cranial radiation and can severely impact quality of life. Early detection and appropriate management can mitigate academic, speech, language, social, and psychological morbidity resulting from hearing deficits. This review is targeted as a resource for providers involved in aftercare of childhood cancers. The goal is to promote early identification of survivors at-risk for HL, appropriate evaluation and interpretation of diagnostic tests, timely referral to an audiologist when indicated, and to increase knowledge of current therapeutic options.

Early cisplatin induced ototoxicity profile may predict the need for hearing support in children with medulloblastoma

BACKGROUND

Cisplatin (CDDP) ototoxicity is a significant side effect of the current treatment of medulloblastoma (MB). Cumulative dose of CDDP and age are recognized risk factors for hearing loss, but inter-individual susceptibility limits our ability to identify patients at risk for hearing loss. We describe the kinetics of early audiometric changes during therapy and identify profiles associated with a higher risk of needing hearing aids.

PROCEDURE

Serial audiometric evaluations were performed during and after completion of therapy in children with average risk (AR) and high-risk (HR) MB. Each audiogram was scored according to five grading systems. Variations of pure tone thresholds were analyzed at each frequency for each consecutive audiogram. CDDP dose modifications and hearing outcome were recorded.

RESULTS

A total of 258 audiograms from 35 patients (22 AR, 13 HR) were analyzed. Eighteen AR patients (81.3%) required dose reduction and the median cumulative dose of CDDP administered was 412.5 mg/m(2) (150-600), corresponding to 68% of the intended dose. Three HR patients (23.0%) required dose reduction. At a median follow-up of 67 months (11-117), nine patients (25.7%) required hearing support: After two cycles of CDDP (150 mg/m(2) ), the average hearing loss at 8,000 Hz was twice higher in the group that eventually required hearing support.

CONCLUSION

Early alteration of high-frequency thresholds may help identify individuals who will require hearing support. In the MB population, alternative strategies should be developed to limit the cumulative dose of CDDP to prevent significant ototoxicity.