Pantoprazole, an Inhibitor of the Organic Cation Transporter 2, Does Not Ameliorate Cisplatin‐Related Ototoxicity or Nephrotoxicity in Children and Adolescents with Newly Diagnosed Osteosarcoma Treated with Methotrexate, Doxorubicin, and Cisplatin

LESSONS LEARNED. Using a randomized crossover design and continuous variables such as change in hearing threshold and biomarkers of acute renal injury as short‐term endpoints, it was determined that pantoprazole, an organic cation transporter 2 inhibitor, did not ameliorate cisplatin‐associated nephrotoxicity or ototoxicity. Cystatin C is a robust method to estimate glomerular filtration rate in patients with cancer. Using a patient‐reported outcome survey, all patients identified tinnitus and subjective hearing loss occurring “at least rarely” after cycle 1, prior to objective high‐frequency hearing loss measured by audiograms. New therapies that improve outcome with less acute and long‐term toxicity are needed. BACKGROUND. Organic cation transporter 2 (OCT2), which is a cisplatin uptake transporter expressed on renal tubules and cochlear hair cells but not on osteosarcoma cells, mediates cisplatin uptake. Pantoprazole inhibits OCT2 and could ameliorate cisplatin ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity. Using a randomized crossover design, we evaluated audiograms, urinary acute kidney injury (AKI) biomarkers, and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) estimated from cystatin C (GFR(cysC)) in patients receiving cisplatin with and without pantoprazole. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Cisplatin (60 mg/m(2) × 2 days per cycle) was administered concurrently with pantoprazole (intravenous [IV], 1.6 mg/kg over 4 hours) on cycles 1 and 2 or cycles 3 and 4 in 12 patients with osteosarcoma (OS) with a median (range) age of 12.8 (5.6–19) years. Audiograms, urinary AKI biomarkers, and serum cystatin C were monitored during each cycle. RESULTS. Pantoprazole had no impact on decrements in hearing threshold at 4–8 kHz, post‐treatment elevation of urinary AKI biomarkers, or GFR(cysC) (Fig. 1, Table 1). Histological response (percent necrosis) after two cycles was similar with or without pantoprazole. All eight patients with localized OS at diagnosis are alive and in remission; three of four patients with metastases at diagnosis have died. CONCLUSION. Pantoprazole did not ameliorate cisplatin ototoxicity or nephrotoxicity. The decrease in GFR(cysC) and increase in N‐acetyl‐ß‐glucosaminidase (NAG) and creatinine demonstrate that these biomarkers can quantify cisplatin glomerular and proximal tubular toxicity. OCT2 inhibition by pantoprazole did not appear to alter antitumor response or survival.