Pharmacy PEBC Practice Exam

Cisplatin is a type of chemotherapy medication commonly used to treat various types of cancer. It works by damaging the DNA of rapidly dividing cells, thereby stopping their growth and reproduction. As with most chemotherapy drugs, there are a number of potential side effects that can occur when using cisplatin. Of the options given, the most significant adverse effect of cisplatin is ototoxicity, which refers to damage of the inner ear and resulting hearing loss. This is because cisplatin can damage the sensory cells within the inner ear, leading to hearing loss or ringing in the ears. While hepatotoxicity (liver damage), photosensitivity (increased sensitivity to sunlight), and pulmonary fibrosis (scarring of the lungs) are all possible adverse effects of cisplatin, they are not as commonly seen or as significant as ototoxicity.