Barbara Vanni, MD

The paper by Gowda et al is anotherwell-done work on allergicreactions in patients treatedwith oxaliplatin (L-OHP, Eloxatin)for advanced colorectal cancer.Oxaliplatin was found to be an activeagent in the treatment of this disease10 years ago,[1] and its role in combinationwith leucovorin and fluorouracil(5-FU) is a cornerstone in thetreatment of advanced colorectalcancer,[2-7] as it will probably alsobecome in the adjuvant setting.[8] Althoughthe drug’s dose-limiting toxicityis a cumulative sensory neuropathy,allergic and idiosyncratic reactions mustalways be considered due to their severityand because they can representan important, irreversible reasonfor treatment discontinuation.