[Reduction of oxaliplatin-related neurotoxicity by calcium and magnesium infusions].

PURPOSE: Oxaliplatin in combination with infusional 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin (FOLFOX) have emerged as the standard of care in the therapy of advanced-stage colorectal cancer. Sensory neurotoxicity is its dose-limiting toxicity. We decided to use Ca and Mg for prevention of oxaliplatin-related neurotoxicity with reference to the report of Gamelin et al. METHODS: The subjects were 14 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Oxaliplatin (85 mg/m(2)) was given intravenously as FOLFOX regimen. All 14 patients received infusions of Ca gluconate and Mg sulfate before and after oxaliplatin. RESULTS: Only 1 patient had grade 3 toxicity (nausea and vomiting). Sensory neuropathy occurred in 8 patients (57.1%). There was no neurotoxicity with functional impairment in this study. Sensory neuropathy hardly occurred before 4 cycles. CONCLUSIONS: Ca/Mg infusions seem to prevent acute oxaliplatin-induced neurotoxic.