[Oxaliplatin]

Oxaliplatin (L-OHP) is a new third generation 1,2-DACH-platinum derivative. Pre-clinical studies from human cell lines suggested that L-OHP was efficacious in treating advanced or recurrent colorectal cancer. Furthermore, L-OHP and fluorouracil combination was shown to be synergistic both in experimental studies and in clinical trials. Toxicity profiles also differ from other platinum derivatives. Neurotoxicity is much more frequent, but renal toxicity, alopecia, and ototoxicity are less. Combination chemotherapy with L-OHP, infusional 5-fluorouracil, and leucovorin-a treatment regimen known as FOLFOX, has been shown clinical benefit in response rate, time to progression, and overall survival as compared to those achieved with 5-fluorouracil+leucovorin. Thus, introduction of irinotecan and L-OHP into clinical use has been a major advances for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Additional research must be required to define optimal dose schedule and sequence of these agents. Inducing remission with first-line treatment has been shown a significant correlation between tumor response and survival (progression free and overall).