Oxaliplatin

Encyclopedia : O : OX : OXA : Oxaliplatin

Oxaliplatin is a platinum-based chemotherapy drug in the same family as cisplatin and carboplatin. It is typically administered in combination with fluorouracil and leucovorin in a combination known as FOLFOX for the treatment of colorectal cancer. Compared to cisplatin the two amine groups are replaced by cyclohexyldiamine for improved antitumour activity. The chlorine ligands are replaced by the oxalato bidentate derived from oxalic acid in order to improve water solubility.

Oxaliplatin is marketed by Sanofi-Aventis under the trademark Eloxatin®.

Mechanism of action and efficacy

In vivo studies showed Oxaliplatin has anti-tumor activity against colon carcinoma through its (non-targeted) cytotoxic effects. Median patient survival is approximately 5 months greater compared to the previous standard treatment.

Side-effects

Side-effects of oxaliplatin treatment can potentially include:

Neuropathy, (both an acute, reversible sensitivity to cold and numbness in the hands and feet and a chronic, possibly irreversible foot/leg, hand/arm numbness, often with deficits in proprioception)
Fatigue
Nausea,vomiting, and/or diarrhea
Neutropenia
Hearing loss

In addition, some patients may experience an allergic reaction to platinum-containing drugs.

References

Graham J, Mushin M, Kirkpatrick P.: Oxaliplatin. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2004;3:11-2. PMID 14756144. [Fulltext].
[Eloxatin web site]

Chemotherapeutic agents (L01) [ edit] - Chemotherapy regimens
L01A - Alkylating agents: Cyclophosphamide \| Chlorambucil \| Melphalan \| Mechlorethamine \| Ifosfamide \| Busulfan \| ThioTEPA \| Lomustine \| Streptozocin \| Temozolomide \| Dacarbazine \| Cisplatin \| Carboplatin \| Oxaliplatin \| Procarbazine \| Uramustine
L01B - Antimetabolites: Methotrexate \| Pemetrexed \| Fludarabine Cytarabine \| Fluorouracil \| Floxuridine \| Gemcitabine \| Capecitabine
L01C - Plant alkaloids: Vinblastine \| Vincristine \| Vinorelbine \| Etoposide \| Paclitaxel \| Docetaxel
L01D - Cytotoxic/antitumour antibiotics: Anthracycline family (Doxorubicin \| Daunorubicin \| Epirubicin \| Idarubicin \| Mitoxantrone) \| Bleomycin \| Mitomycin \| Hydroxyurea
L01X - Other, including Topoisomerase inhibitors: Topotecan \| Irinotecan

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