High doses of intrapleural cisplatin in a case of malignant pleural mesothelioma. Clinical observations and pharmacokinetic analyses

Abstract

The authors' findings may have some implications for the clinical use of intrapleural chemotherapy with high doses of cisplatin. Both infusions of cisplatin were generally well tolerated by the patient and were associated with the local pharmacologic advantage of sustained exposure to cisplatin of the pleural cavity. No sign of myelosuppression, neuropathy, or ototoxicity was observed, and acute toxicity consisted of mild nausea, vomiting, and prolonged anorexia. A transient presence of granular casts was the only observed nephrotoxic effect of cisplatin. Excellent local control of the disease with absence of recurrence of the effusion was observed.