Prevention of oxaliplatin-related neurotoxicity by glutathione infusions

We have used glutathione for prevention of oxaliplatin-related neurotoxicity with reference to the article of Cascinu et al. We investigated oxaliplatin-related neurotoxicity in Kariya Toyota General Hospital(KTGH)and compared with the data described in the article of Gamelin about the severity of its neurotoxicity. Grade 3 neurotoxicity was observed in only 5 of 44 patients(11.4%). The median number of cycles and cumulative dose of oxaliplatin were 12 cycles(5-27 / cycles)and 802.2(273.2-1,952.4)mg/m(2), respectively, at Grade 3 neuropathy. We evaluated retrospectively neuro-toxicity grade at cumulative oxaliplatin doses of approximately 500-520 mg/m(2). The severity of neurotoxicity observed in KTGH was significantly lower than in the group without Ca/Mg. We found no difference between the group with glutathione and / with Ca/Mg. Glutathione infusions seemed to prevent oxaliplatin-related neurotoxicity.