title: Recent updates in the clinical use of platinum compounds for the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers.
abstract: Since the late 1970s, clinical researchers have investigated the use of platinum compounds administered as single agents or in combination with other drugs for the treatment of a variety of cancers, including gastrointestinal cancers. After extensive clinical development, oxaliplatin has become an important option in the treatment of colorectal cancer, and its role in the treatment of other gastrointestinal cancers (and other cancers) remains a focus of intense investigation. Historically, platinum compounds have shown limited single-agent activity in pancreatic cancer, although more recent studies have explored potential synergies using platinum-based combinations. In addition, platinum agents have long been used in the treatment of advanced gastroesophageal tumors (typically 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin combinations), although poor outcomes in this disease clearly indicate a need for the development of more active agents. This review will examine recent clinical data on the use of platinum-based chemotherapies for the treatment of these gastrointestinal cancers.
authors.affiliation: Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. dhaller@mail.med.upenn.du <dhaller@mail.med.upenn.du>
authors.forename: Daniel G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Haller
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D017671:Platinum Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D017671:Platinum Compounds; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000093542:Gemcitabine