Summary:
Prospective, randomized trials have shown that carboplatin produced less nephrotoxicity, neurotoxicity, ototoxicity, nausea, vomiting, and debilitation than the parent compound cisplatin, and its administration is more convenient. Carboplatin appears to be equivalent to cisplatin in drug combinations in ovarian cancer, testicular cancer. SCLC, NSCLC, and head and neck cancers. The dose-limiting toxicities are bone marrow supression, neutropenia, trombocytopenia, and anemia. Carboplatin trials have established a steep antitumor dose-response relationship. Future trials will address the ability to administer higher doses of carboplatin with the use of bone marrow transplantation with or without colony — stimulating factors (CSFs) and interleukins. Carboplatin will continue to be evaluated in adjuvant and neoadjuvant settings. Other routes of administration, such as intraperitoneal administration are under evaluation, as are trials designed to take advantage of carboplatin's radio-sensitising effects.
Carboplatin - the survey of clinical effectiveness and toxicity
