Renal protection with magnesium subcarbonate and magnesium sulphate in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer after cisplatin and paclitaxel chemotherapy: A randomised phase II study

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to examine the effect of magnesium supplementation on nephrotoxicity accompanying standard cisplatin-based chemotherapy in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).Patients and methodsA double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised study was conducted in which study arm magnesium sulphate (5 g) was administered before each course of standard chemotherapy with paclitaxel (135 mg/m2/24 h) plus cisplatin (75 mg/m2) every 3 weeks in patients with EOC. Magnesium subcarbonate (500 mg), three times per day orally, was administered during the treatment intervals. The control arm was administered a placebo instead of both magnesium salts. Magnesium serum levels (sMg) and GFR markers: serum levels of creatinine (sCr), Cockroft–Gault (ClCG) and Modification Diet of Renal Disease (MDRD) formulae were recorded before each cycle, and 3 weeks after the sixth course.Results41 EOC patients were randomised and 40 were eligible. sMg varied significantly between the supplemented and placebo groups (p<0.0001). The control group showed a significantly greater decrease of GFR assessed by: sCr (p = 0.0069), ClCG (p = 0.0077) and MDRD (p = 0.032) formulae compared with the magnesium supplemented group.ConclusionsThese results demonstrate the nephroprotective effect of magnesium supplementation during chemotherapy with cisplatin.