Protective Effect of Acetylcysteine Against Cisplatinum-Induced Ototoxicity: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study is designed as a randomized, double-blind, controlled] trial to investigate the protective effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) against cisplatin-induced hearing loss.

Patients scheduled to receive cisplatin chemotherapy will be enrolled. The primary objective is to compare the changes in hearing thresholds between the intervention group (receiving NAC) and the control group. Hearing function will be comprehensively evaluated using:

Pure-tone Audiometry (including Extended High-Frequency Audiometry).

Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions (DPOAE) to assess outer hair cell function.

Evaluations will be conducted at baseline (before chemotherapy) and before every cycle of cisplatin administration and 1 month and 4 month after completion . Statistical analysis will include descriptive statistics and comparative tests (such as Unpaired T-tests or Generalized Estimating Equations) to determine the significance of hearing threshold shifts. The study aims to provide evidence on the feasibility and effectiveness of NAC in preserving auditory function in cancer patients.

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measure:

• Compare hearing levels between the N-Acetylcysteine group and the placebo group in patients receiving cisplatin, at one month after the completion of treatment by audiometry in term of each frequency and Pure tone average of 500,1000,2000 and 500,1000,2000,4000 and DPOAE

Secondary Outcome Measure:

• Compare hearing levels between the N-Acetylcysteine group and the placebo group in patients receiving cisplatin, prior to each cisplatin cycle administration and 4 months after completion of treatment by audiometry in term of each frequency and Pure tone average of 500,1000,2000 and 500,1000,2000,4000 and DPOAE
• The subsequent otologic symptoms following cisplatin therapy

Inclusion criteria

• Patients aged between 18 and 70 years
• Patients scheduled to receive high-dose cisplatin-based chemotherapy regimens with a projected cumulative cisplatin dose of > 200 mg/m2 and each dose > 50 mg/m2
• Patients may receive concurrent chemotherapy with non-ototoxic agents
• Patients may receive concurrent radiation therapy to the skull base, provided the radiation dose does not exceed the toxic threshold for ototoxicity
• Patients receiving an appropriate antiemetic regimen consisting of Olanzapine or Neurokinin-1 (NK1) receptor antagonists
• Patients receiving medical treatment at Siriraj Hospital.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients diagnosed with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (CA nasopharynx).
• Patients with a history of head and neck radiation therapy where the radiation dose to the cochlea exceeded 9 Gy or the dose to the eustachian tube exceeded 50 Gy on both sides.
• Patients who have received N-acetylcysteine (NAC) within 2 weeks prior to the start of the study.
• Patients who have received other ototoxic drugs within 2 weeks prior to or during the study, including but not limited to:

Aminoglycoside antibiotics, Vancomycin, Loop diuretics (e.g., Furosemide), High-dose Aspirin, Antimalarial drugs (e.g., Quinine)

• Patient with a known allergy or hypersensitivity to acetylcysteine.