Oxaliplatin doublets in non-small cell lung cancer: a literature review

Abstract

Nowadays cisplatin doublets are considered the gold-standard treatment in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, but are often associated to poor toxicity profile. In the last years different schedules have been developed in order to improve the tolerability of these regimens. Carboplatin is gradually replacing cisplatin in clinical practice as well as in clinical trials even if it is still unclear whether it has an equivalent efficacy compared to cisplatin. Oxaliplatin, the trans-l oxalato platinum compound, showed encouraging antineoplastic activity and favourable toxicity profile in NSCLC, but confirmatory randomized phase III trials are warranted. We performed a literature search in order to better understand the possible role of oxaliplatin-based combinations in advanced NSCLC treatment strategies.