Experiences with sodium thiosulfate after intracarotid infusion of cisplatin and BCNU for malignant gliomas.

The treatment of malignant gliomas with cisplatin has been shown to be of benefit. In order to reduce the side effects of the drug, we employed the use of sodium thiosulfate in ten patients one hour after cisplatin infusion and continued for 6 h. Side effects from this population of patients were compared with those side effects experienced with 13 patients not receiving thiosulfate. No real difference in number or severity of side effects from cisplatin was observed between the two groups although nephrotoxicity appeared to be reduced in the patients who received thiosulfate.