Cisplatin is a highly effective antineoplastic drug used against several types of human cancers, such as testicular and ovarian tumors; head and neck; and lung cancer. However, nephrotoxicity is one of the most important side-effects of cisplatin therapy. The severity of cisplatin nephrotoxicity is related to platinum concentration in the kidneys. There is a growing amount of evidence that cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity is ascribed to oxidative damage resulting from free radical generation and that the administration of antioxidants is efficient in inhibiting these side effects. An alternative approach aiming to protect rodents against cisplatin side-effects is the introduction of known dietary antioxidants. Some studies have been conducted to decrease cisplatin-induced lipid peroxidation and cytotoxic effects by using such dietary antioxidants, including sodium selenite; vitamins C and E; curcumin and the carotenoid bixin. We suggest that these dietary antioxidants have a nephroprotective effect, and that their antioxidant mechanisms should be further explored during cisplatin chemotherapy.
cisplatin; nephrotoxicity inhibitors; antioxidants; drug screening assays; antitumor; neoplasms
