Colorectal cancer constitutes a major public health problem.
In France, it accounts for 15 percent of all cancers, with 33,000 new cases diagnosed each year. One French person in 25 is likely to be affected by colorectal cancer, with a 50 percent survival rate at five years. Eloxatin is a new cytotoxic agent which has been marketed by Sanofi in France since September 1996 in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancers after an initial chemotherapy has failed. In these studies, Eloxatin led to improved tumour control and prolonged remission in comparison with the standard chemotherapy used in the trial. Adverse events commonly associated with the use of Eloxatin with 5FU included nausea and vomiting, peripheral sensory neuropathy and myelosuppresion.