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Safety First: Managing Cisplatin Exposure After Mesothelioma Treatment

ByHolly Zink
Safety First: Managing Cisplatin Exposure After Mesothelioma Treatment

Mesothelioma is an aggressive type of cancer that affects the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart. It is caused by exposure to a mineral called asbestos.

Mesothelioma can be difficult to treat, and doctors use a combination of treatments to help patients. One of these treatments is called Hyperthermic Intrathoracic Chemotherapy (HITOC), which delivers a drug called cisplatin directly to the area where the cancer is found.

Decoding Mesothelioma Treatment

A recent study aimed to learn more about the safety measures needed after HITOC. The researchers focused on understanding how cisplatin is removed from the body through fluids like blood, urine, and secretions from the lungs.

They collected samples from five patients who underwent HITOC, both before and after the treatment, as well as in the days following the procedure. They used a special machine called ICP-MS to measure the levels of cisplatin in the samples.

Right after HITOC, the levels of cisplatin in the body fluids increased significantly. However, over the next nine days, the levels dropped. The study found that about 59% of the cisplatin was removed from the body through urine within 48 hours after HITOC.

Even though the levels of cisplatin in the body fluids of HITOC patients were lower compared to those receiving the medicine through a vein, a significant amount was still found. This means that it is important to take safety precautions when caring for patients after HITOC to prevent exposure to cisplatin. This could include using protective clothing and equipment to keep healthcare workers safe.

In conclusion, HITOC is an important part of the treatment plan for mesothelioma. This study has provided valuable information about how cisplatin is removed from the body after HITOC, which will help doctors and healthcare workers take the necessary precautions to keep everyone safe.

Source

Larisch C, Markowiak T, Ried M, Nowak D, Hofmann HS, Rakete S. The Excretion of Cisplatin after Hyperthermic Intrathoracic Chemotherapy. Cancers (Basel). 2023;15(19):4872. Published 2023 Oct 6. doi:10.3390/cancers15194872. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10571901/

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