Protective Effects of Vitamin C on Cisplatin Naphrotoxicity

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 or 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 treament of cisplatin and Vitamin C was evaluated by measuring serum glutamic pyruvate transmainase(sGPT) and serum glutamic oxalate transminase(sGOT). Combination treatment did not affect the levels of sGPT and sGOT, and any combination treatment did not induce metallothionein biosynthesis in kidny, Vitamin C which has radical scavenging effect induce metallothionein biosynthesis in kidney. Vitamin C which has radical scavenging effect directly reduced nephrotoxicity of cisplatin in vivo. Thus, it seems that free radical is the cause of cisplatin nepthrotoxicity. 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.