Chemotherapy Linked To Hearing Loss In Longtime Cancer Survivors, Study Finds

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Researchers from Indiana University and the University of South Florida performed an interdisciplinary study that produced important results regarding the long-term consequences on cancer survivors of one of the most widely used kinds of chemotherapy.

The study, which tracked a cohort of testicular cancer survivors who received cisplatin-based chemotherapy for an average of 14 years, was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Oncology. It found that 78 per cent of the survivors have significant difficulties in everyday listening situations, which negatively affects their quality of life. This interdisciplinary study is the first to examine hearing loss progression and real-world listening problems in cancer survivors over an extended length of time.

"It's important that we understand the real-world effects of patients' sensory problems and if we can understand that, then we can develop better therapeutic strategies and preventive measures to improve the long-term quality of life for cancer survivors," said Robert Frisina, distinguished university professor and chair of the USF Department of Medical Engineering.

Cisplatin is commonly used in chemotherapy treatments for a variety of cancers, including bladder, lung, neck and testicular. It is administered intravenously and affects various parts of the body. However, the ears are particularly vulnerable as they have little ability to filter out the drug, causing it to become trapped. This leads to inflammation and the destruction of sensory cells that are critical for coding sound, causing permanent hearing loss that can progressively get worse well after cisplatin treatments are completed.

Lead author Victoria Sanchez, associate professor in the USF Health Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, said that despite the known risks, there's a nationwide lack of routine hearing assessments for patients undergoing chemotherapy. "Most patients still do not get their hearing tested prior to, during or after chemotherapy. Our study highlights the need for regular auditory evaluations to manage and mitigate long-term hearing damage."

The research team found higher doses of cisplatin led to more severe and progressing hearing loss, especially in patients with risk factors, such as high blood pressure and poor cardiovascular health. They also experienced increased difficulty hearing in common environments, such as a loud restaurant.

"It will be critically important to follow these patients for life. Their current median age is only 48 years, and eventually they will enter the years at which age-related hearing loss also begins to develop," said Dr. Lois B. Travis, Lawrence H. Einhorn Professor of Cancer Research at Indiana University School of Medicine and a researcher at the IU Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center. This research is part of The Platinum Study, an ongoing research effort led by Dr. Travis and funded by the National Cancer Institute to study cisplatin-treated testicular cancer survivors.

The hope is that this study will inspire further investigation into alternative chemotherapeutic protocols and preventive measures, such as FDA-approved drugs to prevent or reduce hearing loss.

"This research gives oncologists the information they need to explore alternative treatment plans that could reduce the long-term side effects, such as altering the dosages and timing of the cisplatin in the treatment, when that could be an appropriate option," Frisina said.

Innovative solutions, such as Pedmark, a new FDA-approved injection that mitigates cisplatin-induced hearing loss in children, represent promising steps forward, according to Frisina.

"We want to protect our hearing or treat a hearing loss if hearing damage occurs," Sanchez said. "Hearing allows us to connect to the world we love. Staying connected through conversations with family and friends, enjoyment of music and entertainment, staying safe and finding pleasure in our vibrant surroundings. Promoting optimal hearing for overall wellness is essential for healthy living."