Prevention of Cisplatin Neurotoxicity with an ACTH(4–9) Analogue in Patients with Ovarian Cancer

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, we assessed the efficacy of an ACTH(4–9) analogue, Org 2766, in the prevention of cisplatin neuropathy in 55 women with ovarian cancer. The analogue was given subcutaneously in a dose of 0.25 mg (low dose) or 1 mg (high dose) per square meter of body-surface area before and after treatment with cisplatin and cyclophosphamide (75 and 750 mg per square meter every three weeks). The threshold of vibration perception was used as the principal measure of neurotoxicity. After four cycles of chemotherapy, the mean (±SEM) threshold value for vibration perception in the placebo group increased from 0.67±0.12 to 1.61±0.43 μm of skin displacement (P