Florida: Researchers at Indiana University and the University of South Florida conducted an interdisciplinary study that produced significant results. Long-term consequences But Cancer survivors One of the most widely used types chemotherapy,

study that followed a group of testicular cancer Survivors The study, which included people who received cisplatin-based chemotherapy for an average of 14 years, was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Oncology. It found that 78 percent of survivors have significant difficulty in everyday listening situations, which negatively affects their quality of life. This interdisciplinary study is the first to investigate Deafness To raise awareness about the long-term progress and real-world hearing problems in cancer survivors.

“It’s important that we understand the real-world impacts of patients’ sensory problems, and if we can understand this, we can develop better therapeutic strategies and preventive measures to improve the long-term quality of life of cancer survivors,” said Robert Frisina, MD, Distinguished University Professor and chair of the USF Department of Medical Engineering.

Cisplatin It is commonly used in chemotherapy treatments for a variety of cancers, including bladder, lung, neck and testicular. It is administered through veins and affects various parts of the body. However, the ears are particularly vulnerable as they have little ability to filter the drug, causing it to become trapped. This leads to inflammation and destruction of sensory cells that are important for sound coding, causing permanent hearing loss that may gradually worsen long after cisplatin treatment is completed.

Despite the known risks, there is a nationwide lack of routine hearing evaluations for patients undergoing chemotherapy, said lead author Victoria Sanchez, associate professor in the USF Health Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. “Most patients still do not have their hearing checked before, during, or after chemotherapy. Our study highlights the need for routine hearing evaluations to manage and minimize long-term hearing damage.”

The research team found that higher doses of cisplatin caused more severe and progressive hearing loss, particularly in patients with risk factors such as high blood pressure and poor heart health. They also experienced difficulty hearing in normal environments, such as in a noisy restaurant.

“It will be very important to follow these patients throughout their lives. Their current average lifespan is only 48 years, and they will eventually enter the years when age-related hearing loss will also begin to develop,” said Dr. Lois B. Travis, the Lawrence H. Einhorn Professor of Cancer Research at Indiana University School of Medicine and a researcher at the IU Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center. The research is part of The Platinum Study, an ongoing research effort led by Dr. Travis, funded by the National Cancer Institute to study survivors of cisplatin-treated testicular cancer.

It is hoped that this study will inspire further investigation into alternative chemotherapy protocols and preventive measures, such as FDA-approved medications to prevent or minimize hearing loss.

“This research provides oncologists with information needed to explore alternative treatment plans to reduce long-term side effects, such as altering the dose and timing of cisplatin in treatment, when this may be an appropriate option,” Frisina said.

According to Frisina, innovative solutions, such as Pedmark, a new FDA-approved injection that reduces cisplatin-induced hearing loss in children, are promising steps forward.

“We want to protect our hearing or treat it if we have hearing loss,” Sanchez said. “Hearing helps us connect with the world we love; staying connected with family and friends through conversation, enjoying music and entertainment, staying safe and finding joy in our living environments. Promoting optimal hearing is essential to overall health for a healthy life.” (ANI)