Oxaliplatin for Colorectal Cancer Therapy: A Review

A tumour which can evolve within the colon and rectum is termed as colorectal cancer. These cancers are named as rectal or colon cancer based on their origin. The colorectal cancers evolve due to polyp formation either on the inner lining of the colon or rectum. Some of the polyps are leading to cancer over the series of several years, but all polyps do not develop cancer. The treatment of colorectal cancer is also possible by surgery, radiation, chemo- and targeted therapy. Oxaliplatin is a platinumbased chemotherapeutic agent, given in a combination with “FOLFOX” (leucovorin and fluorouracil) which is prescribed for the treatment of colorectal cancer. It forms many transient reactive complexes such as monoaquo and Diaquodiaminocyclohexane (DACH) platinum, which are fluently attached with macromolecules. These active platinum complexes are capable of blocking DNA fusion by constituting both cross-linked strand (inter and intra) of DNA molecule. These crosslinks hinder DNA replication and transcription. Both RNA and protein synthesis are inhibited at higher concentration of drug oxaliplatin. The pharmacokinetics of oxaliplatin was assessed on a number of patients by giving the infusion of 2 h with the dose of 85mg/m2. The reported half-lives show large variations between the shortest half-life is 32–47 h and the longest 189–239 h, which are being obtained by Flameless Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (FAAS) and ICP-MS (Inductively Couple Plasma Mass Spectrometry). Recently, the oxaliplatin was detected within1-3 h thereafter the end of an infusion of 130 mg/m2 of oxaliplatin using liquid chromatography in combination with ICP-MS.