Protective effects of Vitamin C on cisplatin nephrotoxicity

Cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum(II)(cisplatin) is one of the most effective antitumor agents currently available for cancer therapy. However, its clinical use has been limited by its severe side effects, especially nephrotoxicity. To evaluate the effect of radical scavengers on cisplatin nephrotoxicity in rats, cisplatin and Vitamin C were given intraperitoneally. Remarkable protective effects of Vitamin C against nephrotoxicity of cisplatin were observed when Vitamin C was administered to rats 1hr before cisplatin injection. Hepatotoxicity induced by combination treatment of cisplatin and Vitamin C was evaluated by measuring serum glutamic pyruvate transaminase(sGPT) and serum glutamic oxalate transaminase(sGOT). Combination treatment did not affect the levels of sGPT and sGOT, and any combination treatment did not induce metallothionein biosynthesis in kidney. Vitamin C which has radical scavenging effect directly reduced nephrotoxicity of cisplatinin vivo. Thus, it seems that free radical is the cause of cisplatin nephrotoxicity. Also, combination treatment did not reduce anticancer activity of cisplatin. The present results indicate that Vitamin C, when it is given with cisplatin, may provide protection against cisplatin nephrotoxicity without reducing anticancer activity.