Acute renal toxicity associated with suramin in the treatment of prostate cancer

The use of suramin, a polysulfonated naphthylurea, in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer currently is being investigated. A 52-year-old man developed acute renal dysfunction after receiving nine doses of suramin. His suramin therapy was discontinued, but his serum creatinine level continued to rise to 10.8 mg/dl during the next 6 days. The patient was not rechallenged with suramin, and his renal function returned to baseline within the next 3 weeks. Future investigators of this drug should be aware of the possibility of such a reaction with parenteral administration.