Oxaliplatin clinical activity: a review

Oxaliplatin (Eloxatin(TM)), a recently developed third-generation cisplatin analogue with a 1,2-diaminocyclohexane (DACH) carrier ligand, has displaye d preclinical and clinical activity in a wide variety of tumour types. Syne rgistic with 5-FU in colorectal cancer (CRC), the combination has proven ef ficacy in 5-FU-resistant advanced disease and in previously untreated CRC, as demonstrated in controlled phase III trials, while evaluation in the adj uvant setting is ongoing. Due to its excellent safety profile, its unique m echanism of action and lack of cross-resistance with other active agents in CRC, oxaliplatin has also been combined with CPT-II and Raltitrexed with p romising results. Trials in pretreated and untreated advanced ovarian cance r (AOC), as a single agent or in combination with cisplatin, cyclophosphami de or paclitaxel, indicate a yet to be defined role in AOC and confirm its lack of cross-resistance with cis/carboplatin. Clinical investigations of s ingle agent and combination therapies in breast, lung, prostate and germ-ce ll carcinomas, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and malignant mesothelioma are being pursued. While the role of oxaliplatin in medical oncology is yet to be ful ly defined, it appears to be an important new anticancer agent. (C) 2000 El sevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.