Oxaliplatin in ovarian cancer

Oxaliplatin [trans-1-diaminocyclohexane (DACH) platinum, L-OHP] was brought into clinical evaluation in ovarian cancer because of the in vitro and in vivo antitumour activity observed in experimental models resistant to cisplatin. The antitumour activity so far observed in phase II studies, in which L-OHP was mainly given at the dose of 130 mg/m2 as 2-hour infusion, ranged between 15% and 30% and has confirmed the preclinical data. These results strongly support the need for additional studies in patients with tumour primarily resistant to cisplatin to establish a role of L-OHP. Neurotoxicity, in the form of a peculiar sensory neuropathy, is the most important side effect, because it is cumulative after repeated administration of the single agent or of combinations with other highly active but neurotoxic antitumour drugs like taxanes and other platinum analogues. Further clinical development of L-OHP needs to take into account the characteristics of other available active drugs and the distinctive preclinical and clinical features of this DACH platinum complex.