OBJECTIVES:~Primary~Determine the ability of alpha-lipoic acid supplementation to prevent or reduce the incidence and severity of hearing loss in cancer patients undergoing treatment with cisplatin.~Secondary~Determine if this drug improves the oxidative state, as measured by a malondialdehyde measurement of oxidative stress, thereby protecting the patient against ototoxic-induced hearing loss.~OUTLINE: This is a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized, multicenter study. Patients are stratified by cancer stage and institution. Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms.~Arm I: Patients receive oral alpha-lipoic acid supplement once a day beginning 1 week before the start of cisplatin treatment and continuing for up to 1 month after the completion of cisplatin. During cisplatin treatment, patients discontinue supplement 1 day prior to the cisplatin treatment and resume daily supplements 2 days post treatment.~Arm II: Patients receive oral placebo supplement once a day beginning 1 week before the start of cisplatin and continuing for up to 1 month after the completion of cisplatin. During cisplatin treatment, patients discontinue supplement 1 day prior to the cisplatin treatment and resume daily supplements 2 days post treatment.~Hearing and ototoxicity are assessed at baseline, on each day of chemotherapy, and at 1 and 3 months post chemotherapy.~Blood samples are collected periodically to measure malondialdehyde and alpha-lipoic acid levels.~After completion of treatment with cisplatin, patients are followed for 3 months.
RATIONALE: Alpha-lipoic acid may prevent or lessen hearing loss caused by cisplatin.~PURPOSE: This randomized clinical trial is studying the effectiveness of alpha-lipoic acid in preventing hearing loss in cancer patients undergoing treatment with cisplatin.