TriangleHEALTH PROFESSIONAL · SOURCE READING
Postoperative oxaliplatin-containing regimens
Source: Rectal Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version, National Cancer Institute.
Source updated: February 12, 2025 · Captured 2026-09-09.
Selected source text with whitespace normalised. This Triangle page is not an NCI PDQ summary. Independent clinical review is pending.
Based on results of several studies, oxaliplatin as a radiation sensitizer does not appear to add any benefit in terms of primary tumor response, and it has been associated with increased acute treatment-related toxicity. The question of whether oxaliplatin should be added to adjuvant 5-FU/LV for postoperative management of stages II and III rectal cancer is an ongoing debate. There are no randomized phase III studies to support the use of oxaliplatin for the adjuvant treatment of rectal cancer. However, the addition of oxaliplatin to 5-FU/LV for the adjuvant treatment of colon cancer is now considered standard care.
Evidence (postoperative oxaliplatin):
In the randomized Multicenter International Study of Oxaliplatin/5-FU/LV in the Adjuvant Treatment of Colon Cancer (MOSAIC) study, the toxic effects and efficacy of FOLFOX4 (a 2-hour infusion of 200 mg/m2 LV, followed by a bolus of 400 mg/m2 5-FU, and then a 22-hour infusion of 600 mg/m2 5-FU on 2 consecutive days every 14 days for 12 cycles, plus a 2-hour infusion of 85 mg/m2 oxaliplatin on day 1, given simultaneously with LV) were compared with the same 5-FU/LV regimen without oxaliplatin when administered for 6 months. Each arm of the trial included 1,123 patients.[43]
Source links and citations
In the randomized Multicenter International Study of Oxaliplatin/5-FU/LV in the Adjuvant Treatment of Colon Cancer (MOSAIC) study, the toxic effects and efficacy of FOLFOX4 (a 2-hour infusion of 200 mg/m2 LV, followed by a bolus of 400 mg/m2 5-FU, and then a 22-hour infusion of 600 mg/m2 5-FU on 2 consecutive days every 14 days for 12 cycles, plus a 2-hour infusion of 85 mg/m2 oxaliplatin on day 1, given simultaneously with LV) were compared with the same 5-FU/LV regimen without oxaliplatin when administered for 6 months. Each arm of the trial included 1,123 patients.[43]
Preliminary results of the study, with 37 months of follow-up, demonstrated a significant improvement in DFS at 3 years in favor of FOLFOX4 (77.8% vs. 72.9%; P = .01). When initially reported, there was no difference in OS.[44][Level of evidence B1]
Source links and citations
In the randomized Multicenter International Study of Oxaliplatin/5-FU/LV in the Adjuvant Treatment of Colon Cancer (MOSAIC) study, the toxic effects and efficacy of FOLFOX4 (a 2-hour infusion of 200 mg/m2 LV, followed by a bolus of 400 mg/m2 5-FU, and then a 22-hour infusion of 600 mg/m2 5-FU on 2 consecutive days every 14 days for 12 cycles, plus a 2-hour infusion of 85 mg/m2 oxaliplatin on day 1, given simultaneously with LV) were compared with the same 5-FU/LV regimen without oxaliplatin when administered for 6 months. Each arm of the trial included 1,123 patients.[43]
Further follow-up at 6 years demonstrated that the OS for all patients (both stage II and stage III) who entered the study was not significantly different (OS rate, 78.5% FOLFOX4 vs. 76.0% 5-FU/LV group; HR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.71–1.00).
In the randomized Multicenter International Study of Oxaliplatin/5-FU/LV in the Adjuvant Treatment of Colon Cancer (MOSAIC) study, the toxic effects and efficacy of FOLFOX4 (a 2-hour infusion of 200 mg/m2 LV, followed by a bolus of 400 mg/m2 5-FU, and then a 22-hour infusion of 600 mg/m2 5-FU on 2 consecutive days every 14 days for 12 cycles, plus a 2-hour infusion of 85 mg/m2 oxaliplatin on day 1, given simultaneously with LV) were compared with the same 5-FU/LV regimen without oxaliplatin when administered for 6 months. Each arm of the trial included 1,123 patients.[43] › Further follow-up at 6 years demonstrated that the OS for all patients (both stage II and stage III) who entered the study was not significantly different (OS rate, 78.5% FOLFOX4 vs. 76.0% 5-FU/LV group; HR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.71–1.00).
On subset analysis, the 6-year OS rate in patients with stage III colon cancer was 72.9% in the patients who received FOLFOX4 and 68.9% in the patients who received 5-FU/LV (HR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.65–0.97; P = .023).[44][Level of evidence A1]
Source links and citations
In the randomized Multicenter International Study of Oxaliplatin/5-FU/LV in the Adjuvant Treatment of Colon Cancer (MOSAIC) study, the toxic effects and efficacy of FOLFOX4 (a 2-hour infusion of 200 mg/m2 LV, followed by a bolus of 400 mg/m2 5-FU, and then a 22-hour infusion of 600 mg/m2 5-FU on 2 consecutive days every 14 days for 12 cycles, plus a 2-hour infusion of 85 mg/m2 oxaliplatin on day 1, given simultaneously with LV) were compared with the same 5-FU/LV regimen without oxaliplatin when administered for 6 months. Each arm of the trial included 1,123 patients.[43] › Further follow-up at 6 years demonstrated that the OS for all patients (both stage II and stage III) who entered the study was not significantly different (OS rate, 78.5% FOLFOX4 vs. 76.0% 5-FU/LV group; HR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.71–1.00).
Patients treated with FOLFOX4 experienced more frequent toxic effects, consisting mainly of neutropenia (41% > grade 3) and reversible peripheral sensory neuropathy (12.4% > grade 3).
The results of the completed NSABP-C-07 study confirmed and extended the results of the MOSAIC trial.[45] In NSABP C-07, 2,492 patients with stage II or III colon or rectal cancer were randomly assigned to receive either FLOX (2-hour IV infusion of 85 mg/m2 oxaliplatin on days 1, 15, and 29 of each 8-week treatment cycle, followed by a 2-hour IV infusion of 500 mg/m2 LV plus bolus 500 mg/m2 5-FU 1 hour after the start of the LV infusion on days 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, and 36, followed by a 2-week rest period, for a total of three cycles [24 weeks]) or the same chemotherapy without oxaliplatin (Roswell Park regimen).
Source links and citations
The results of the completed NSABP-C-07 study confirmed and extended the results of the MOSAIC trial.[45] In NSABP C-07, 2,492 patients with stage II or III colon or rectal cancer were randomly assigned to receive either FLOX (2-hour IV infusion of 85 mg/m2 oxaliplatin on days 1, 15, and 29 of each 8-week treatment cycle, followed by a 2-hour IV infusion of 500 mg/m2 LV plus bolus 500 mg/m2 5-FU 1 hour after the start of the LV infusion on days 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, and 36, followed by a 2-week rest period, for a total of three cycles [24 weeks]) or the same chemotherapy without oxaliplatin (Roswell Park regimen).
The 3- and 4-year DFS rates were 71.8% and 67% for the Roswell Park regimen and 76.1% and 73.2% for FLOX, respectively.
The results of the completed NSABP-C-07 study confirmed and extended the results of the MOSAIC trial.[45] In NSABP C-07, 2,492 patients with stage II or III colon or rectal cancer were randomly assigned to receive either FLOX (2-hour IV infusion of 85 mg/m2 oxaliplatin on days 1, 15, and 29 of each 8-week treatment cycle, followed by a 2-hour IV infusion of 500 mg/m2 LV plus bolus 500 mg/m2 5-FU 1 hour after the start of the LV infusion on days 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, and 36, followed by a 2-week rest period, for a total of three cycles [24 weeks]) or the same chemotherapy without oxaliplatin (Roswell Park regimen).
The HR was 0.80 (95% CI, 0.69–0.93), a 20% risk reduction in favor of FLOX (P < .004).
It is unclear whether the results of these colon cancer trials can be applied to the management of patients with rectal cancer. There are no randomized phase III studies to support the routine practice of administering FOLFOX as adjuvant therapy to patients with rectal cancer.
Publication references
Read the original reference and check its publication notices.
Preserved source evidence · Independent clinical review pending · Not medical advice