Eloxatin for Relapsed Non-Hodgkin

Researchers from the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center have reported that Eloxatin (generic name: oxaliplatin) is an effective treatment for patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) who have failed multiple therapies. The details of this phase II study appeared in the August 15, 2005 issue of Cancer.



Platinol(R) (cisplatin) is a current agent for the treatment of patients with NHL who have failed first line therapy. Platinol is usually incorporated into a combination regimen including dexamethasone, cytarabine (DHAP). For more than a decade this has been the most active salvage regimen for patients with relapsed NHL and is often used before an autologous or allogeneic stem cell transplant. The major disadvantage of this regimen is the renal toxicity of Platinol. Eloxatin is a platinum compound with less renal toxicity than Platinol and could be a better drug if active for NHL.



The present study is the only report of Eloxatin as a single agent for the treatment of recurrent or refractory NHL. A total of 83% of patients did not respond to their last treatment. There were 23 patients in the study with aggressive NHL and eight with indolent NHL. Oxaliplatin was given every 21 days. The overall response rate for patients with aggressive NHL was 32% with two complete responses. Responses were seen in patients who had previously received platinum compounds. These authors suggest that oxaliplatin has a favorable toxicity profile and has activity in patients with relapse or recurrent NHL.