 the widely used chemotherapeutic sysplatin causes ototoxicity as late-term side effect. In this issue, Bencafida et al. decipher the mechanism of sysplatin-induced ototoxicity and provide evidence that transient inhibition of P53 ameliorates ototoxicity without influencing chemotherapeutic efficacy. These findings may open exciting perspectives for reducing late-term side effects of cancer treatment. This article was authored by Julie Nonnikens and Jan H.J. Herwidge-Makers.