Reduction of Cisplatin Nephrotoxicity by Selenium: Does Metallothionein Play a Role?

Abstract

Cisplatin is an important antineoplastic drug widely used against several tumors, especially those of the testis and ovaries (Prestayko et al. 1980). The dose-limiting side-effect of cisplatin chemotherapy is its nephrotoxicity, mainly consisting of degeneration of proximal tubules (Walker and Gale 1981); the mechanism of this nephrotoxicity is still unknown. Many attempts have been made to reduce cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. An interesting approach in this respect is the use of selenium. Selenium has been shown to prevent cadmium toxicity in animals (Parizek et al. 1974) and a protective effect of selenium against cisplatin lethality in mice has been described (Berry et al. 1984). It is not known how selenium exerts its protective effect against cisplatin.