Influence of magnesium and parathyroid hormone on cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Magnesium (Mg) supplementation has previously been demonstrated to confer protective effects against nephrotoxicity induced by cisplatin. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) regulates Mg homeostasis. The aim of present study was to determine the protective effects of Mg supplementation against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity and its association with PTH levels in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). A total of 55 patients with primary ESCC who received chemotherapy with high-dose cisplatin were examined. Mg was administered intravenously, and serum concentrations of PTH, parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTH-rP), creatinine and Mg were prospectively measured. Of the 55 patients, 37 received Mg supplementation. Post-chemotherapeutic creatinine concentrations were significantly increased in patients without Mg supplementation (P=0.01), with grade 1 and 2 increases of 22.2 and 5.6%, respectively, whereas these increases were suppressed by Mg supplementation (change in creatinine, P=0.21), with grade 1 and 2 increases of 8.1 and 0%, respectively. In addition, PTH and PTH-rP concentrations were high in 8 (14.5%) and 6 (10.9%) of all 55 patients, respectively. Alterations in creatinine concentrations (post-/pre-chemotherapy) due to chemotherapy were higher in patients with high levels of PTH regardless of Mg supplementation (P<0.01). Pre-therapeutic creatinine concentrations did not correlate with the alterations in creatinine concentrations due to chemotherapy. Intravenous Mg supplementation therefore conferred protective effects against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in patients with ESCC. Furthermore, increases in PTH or PTH-rP may have influenced the extent of nephrotoxicity.