Protection of normal tissues from the cytotoxic effects of chemotherapy by amifostine (Ethyol): clinical experiences.

The rationale for the clinical trials with amifostine (Ethyol, US Bioscience, Inc, West Conshohocken, PA) is based on an extensive body of preclinical data coming from many laboratories around the world. Initial clinical trials centered on the hematotoxicity produced by cyclophosphamide, carboplatin, and cisplatin; hematotoxicities and mucosal toxicities from radiation therapy; and nephrotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and ototoxicity from cisplatin.