Evaluation of the Effect of Rosuvastatin on Cisplatin-induced Nephrotoxicity and Ototoxicity

Cisplatin is an effective anti-cancer drug for the treatment of many solid tumors in humans. Although the clinical response to cisplatin chemotherapy is encouraging, the nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity of the drug makes it difficult to continue its administration in many cases.

Cisplatin nephrotoxicity occurs through several mechanisms, mainly through the transport and accumulation of cisplatin into renal epithelial cells, injury to nuclear and mitochondrial DNA, activation of multiple cell death pathways and initiation of inflammatory response. Accordingly, several experimental strategies were developed to prevent this toxicity. For example, drugs that reduced renal cisplatin accumulation such as organic cation transporter 2 (OCT2) and copper transporter (Ctr1) inhibitors, antioxidants, antiapoptotic and anti-inflammatory agents were investigated. However, many of these drugs interfered with the cytotoxic effects of cisplatin.

Statins are agents used for reducing plasma cholesterol through the inhibition of the enzyme 3- hydroxy-3- methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase. In addition, statins are also proven to have pleiotropic, non-lipid dependent effects. These effects include anti-inflammatory actions and reduction of oxidative stress. Based on animal studies performed, statins have been shown to reduce the nephrotoxic effects of cisplatin in rats. In addition, ongoing clinical trials are aiming to investigate the role of statins in the protection against the ototoxicity of cisplatin as well. Our aim is to assess the protective effect of statins on cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity in humans.