Cisplatin (CisP) is a chemotherapeutic agent used to treat head and neck and lung cancer in adults and over 15 different pediatric cancers. Despite its known toxicity, CisP is still widely used as a first line chemotherapy as it is so effective. Nephrotoxicity is one of the most common adverse effects of CisP, occurring in 20-50% of patients. It manifests as acute kidney injury (AKI) typically within the first few days of exposure and is associated with short and long-term morbidity. Furthermore, AKI diagnosis is only possible once kidney damage has progressed to functional impairment, when mitigation strategies are ineffective. Tests that could predict AKI risk pre-emptively or diagnose early-stage AKI before functional loss would be very impactful, affording opportunities for prevention or early intervention to mitigate CisP nephrotoxicity, reduce morbidity and improve health outcomes.
The field of metabolomics seeks to identify patterns of small molecules (metabolites) involved in cell or tissue metabolism related to disease states, or patient factors like lifestyle and genetics. Plasma and urine are ideal for sampling the metabolome, which can identify at-risk patients and reveal disease-related changes earlier than existing diagnostic methods do.
In CisP-treated children and adults from across Canada, we will identify urine and plasma metabolite profiles a) prior to CisP dosing that predict CisP AKI risk, and b) shortly after dosing to identify early-stage nephrotoxicity, before clinical signs of AKI are detectable. Our identified biomarkers will allow individualization of CisP treatment based on the level of nephrotoxicity risk and the design of trials to mitigate the progression and complications of CisP nephrotoxicity.
Who can participate
Age range
3 Months
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Adult participants: Initiating treatment with CisP (≥75 mg/m2) for head/neck or lung cancers at one of the Adult participating sites; 18 years of age or older.
* Paediatric participants: Initiating treatment with CisP for any cancer diagnosis at one of the Pediatric participating sites; greater than 3 months of age.
* All participants: Consent to participate in the study.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD) at baseline (glomerular filtration rate \<60 mL/min/1.73m2, determined by chart review of either formal glomerular filtration rate testing, 24 hour creatinine creatinine clearance of age-appropriate serum creatinine-based estimated glomerular filtration rate equations; past kidney transplant)
* Previous use of any nephrotoxic drugs included on the provided Excluded Nephrotoxic Medications list in the two weeks prior to initiation of CisP treatment
* Previous use of CisP
* Previous radiotherapy (total body irradiation or abdominal radiation only) in the last 1 month prior to study
* Previous hematopoietic stem cell transplant
* Any chronic or acute health condition that the investigator feels would render the patient inappropriate for this study, including but not limited to significant uncontrolled cardiorespiratory, hepatic, infectious, or renal disease at the discretion of the investigator
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
To identify patterns of metabolites and specific metabolites prior to and shortly after CisP treatment that predict AKI risk and identify the onset of AKI early (discovery cohort).