Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
More than 1100 patients with stage II or III colon cancer and more than 4,000 patients with advanced colorectal cancer were treated in trials with oxaliplatin injection. The most common adverse reactions in patients with stage II or III colon cancer receiving adjuvant treatment were peripheral sensory neuropathy, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia, nausea, increase in transaminases and alkaline phosphatase, diarrhea, emesis, fatigue and stomatitis. The most common adverse reactions in previously untreated and treated patients with advanced colorectal cancer were peripheral sensory neuropathies, fatigue, neutropenia, nausea, emesis, and diarrhea.
Adjuvant Treatment
The safety of oxaliplatin injection in combination with fluorouracil (FU)/leucovorin (LV) was evaluated in patients with stage II or III colon cancer, who had undergone complete resection of the primary tumor in the adjuvant treatment trial
[see Clinical Studies (14.1)].
Fatal adverse reactions in patients who received oxaliplatin injection in the combination arm included sepsis/neutropenic sepsis (n=3), intracerebral hemorrhage (n=2), and eosinophilic pneumonia (n=1).
Thromboembolic events occurred in 6% (grade 3-4, 1.2%) of patients in the oxaliplatin injection arm.
Grade 3 or 4 adverse reactions occurred in 70% of patients in the oxaliplatin injection arm. Grade 3-4 gastrointestinal bleeding occurred in 0.2% of patients. Febrile neutropenia occurred in 0.7% and documented infection with concomitant grade 3-4 neutropenia occurred in 1.1%.
Discontinuation due to an adverse reaction occurred in 15% of the patients in the oxaliplatin injection arm.
Tables 5, 6, and 7 summarize the adverse reactions reported in patients with colon cancer receiving adjuvant treatment.
Table 5: Adverse Reactions Reported in Patients with Colon Cancer Receiving Adjuvant Treatment (greater than or equal to 5% of all patients and with greater than or equal to 1% grade 3-4)
Adverse Reaction*
| Oxaliplatin Injection+ FU/LV N=1108 | FU/LV N=1111 |
All Grades (%) | Grade 3-4 (%) | All Grades (%) | Grade 3-4 (%) |
Neurology |
Peripheral Sensory Neuropathy | 92 | 12 | 16 | <1 |
Gastrointestinal |
Nausea | 74 | 5 | 61 | 2 |
Diarrhea | 56 | 11 | 48 | 7 |
Vomiting | 47 | 6 | 24 | 1 |
Stomatitis | 42 | 3 | 40 | 2 |
Anorexia | 13 | 1 | 8 | <1 |
Constitutional Symptoms/Pain |
Fatigue | 44 | 4 | 38 | 1 |
Abdominal Pain | 18 | 1 | 17 | 2 |
Dermatology/Skin |
Skin Disorder | 32 | 2 | 36 | 2 |
Injection Site Reaction† | 11 | 3 | 10 | 3 |
Fever/Infection |
Fever | 27 | 1 | 12 | 1 |
Infection | 25 | 4 | 25 | 3 |
Allergy/Immunology |
Allergic Reaction | 10 | 3 | 2 | <1 |
* Event coded in WHO-ART dictionary
† Includes thrombosis related to the catheter
Table 6: Adverse Reactions Reported in Patients with Colon Cancer Receiving Adjuvant Treatment (greater than or equal to 5% of all patients but with less than 1% grade 3-4)
Adverse Reaction*
| Oxaliplatin Injection+ FU/LV N=1108 | FU/LV N=1111 |
All Grades (%) | All Grades (%) |
Dermatology/Skin |
Alopecia† | 30 | 28 |
Gastrointestinal |
Constipation | 22 | 19 |
Taste Perversion | 12 | 8 |
Dyspepsia | 8 | 5 |
Constitutional Symptoms/Pain/Ocular/Visual |
Epistaxis | 16 | 12 |
Weight Increase | 10 | 10 |
Conjunctivitis | 9 | 15 |
Headache | 7 | 5 |
Dyspnea | 5 | 3 |
Pain | 5 | 5 |
Abnormal Lacrimation | 4 | 12 |
Neurology |
Sensory Disturbance | 8 | 1 |
Allergy/Immunology |
Rhinitis | 6 | 8 |
* Event coded in WHO-ART dictionary
† No complete alopecia was reported
In females, the following grade 3-4 adverse reactions were more frequent: diarrhea, fatigue, neutropenia, nausea, and vomiting.
In patients greater than or equal to 65 years old, the incidence of grade 3-4 diarrhea and neutropenia was higher than in younger adults.
Clinically relevant adverse reactions were reported in greater than or equal to 2% and less than 5% of the patients in the oxaliplatin injection arm (listed in decreasing order of frequency) were pain, leukopenia, weight loss, and cough.
Table 7: Laboratory-Related Adverse Reactions Occurring in ≥5% of Patients with Colon Cancer Receiving Adjuvant Treatment
Laboratory-Related Adverse Reaction | Oxaliplatin Injectionwith FU/LV N=1108 | FU/LV N=1111 |
All Grades (%) | Grades 3-4 (%) | All Grades (%) | Grades 3-4 (%) |
Hematology |
Neutropenia | 79 | 41 | 40 | 5 |
Thrombocytopenia | 77 | 2 | 19 | <1 |
Anemia | 76 | 1 | 67 | <1 |
Hepatic |
Increased Transaminases | 57 | 2 | 34 | 1 |
Increased Alkaline Phosphatase | 42 | <1 | 20 | <1 |
Hyperbilirubinemia | 20 | 4 | 20 | 5 |
Previously Untreated Advanced Colorectal Cancer
The safety of oxaliplatin injection in combination with fluorouracil (FU)/leucovorin (LV) was evaluated in a randomized trial of patients with previously untreated advanced colorectal cancer
[see Clinical Studies (14.2)]. The adverse reaction profile in this trial was similar to that seen in other trials.
Tables 8, 9, and 10 summarize the adverse reactions reported in the previously untreated advanced colorectal cancer trial.
Table 8: Adverse Reactions Reported in Patients in the Previously Untreated Advanced Colorectal Cancer Clinical Trial (greater than or equal to 5% of all patients and with greater than or equal to 1% grade 3-4)
Adverse Reaction*
| Oxaliplatin Injection+ FU/LV N=259 | Irinotecan + FU/LV N=256 | Oxaliplatin Injection+ Irinotecan N=258 |
All Grades (%) | Grades 3-4 (%) | All Grades (%) | Grades 3-4 (%) | All Grades (%) | Grades 3-4 (%) |
Neurology |
Neuropathy | 82 | 19 | 18 | 2 | 69 | 7 |
Paresthesias | 77 | 18 | 16 | 2 | 62 | 6 |
Pharyngo-laryngeal Dysesthesias | 38 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 28 | 1 |
Neuro-sensory | 12 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 1 |
Neuro NOS† | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Gastrointestinal |
Nausea | 71 | 6 | 67 | 15 | 83 | 19 |
Diarrhea | 56 | 12 | 65 | 29 | 76 | 25 |
Vomiting | 41 | 4 | 43 | 13 | 64 | 23 |
Stomatitis | 38 | 0 | 25 | 1 | 19 | 1 |
Anorexia | 35 | 2 | 25 | 4 | 27 | 5 |
Constipation | 32 | 4 | 27 | 2 | 21 | 2 |
Diarrhea-colostomy | 13 | 2 | 16 | 7 | 16 | 3 |
Gastrointestinal NOS† | 5 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
Constitutional Symptoms/Pain/Ocular/Visual |
Fatigue | 70 | 7 | 58 | 11 | 66 | 16 |
Abdominal Pain | 29 | 8 | 31 | 7 | 39 | 10 |
Myalgia | 14 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 2 |
Pain | 7 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 1 |
Abnormal Vision | 5 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 1 |
Neuralgia | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
Pulmonary |
Cough | 35 | 1 | 25 | 2 | 17 | 1 |
Dyspnea | 18 | 7 | 14 | 3 | 11 | 2 |
Hiccups | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
Hepatic/Metabolic/Laboratory/Renal |
Hyperglycemia | 14 | 2 | 11 | 3 | 12 | 3 |
Hypokalemia | 11 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 2 |
Dehydration | 9 | 5 | 16 | 11 | 14 | 7 |
Hypoalbuminemia | 8 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 9 | 1 |
Hyponatremia | 8 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 1 |
Urinary Frequency | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
Hematology/Infection |
Infection Normal ANC‡ | 10 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 2 |
Infection Low ANC‡ | 8 | 8 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 8 |
Lymphopenia | 6 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 2 |
Febrile Neutropenia | 4 | 4 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 11 |
Dermatology/Skin |
Hand/Foot Syndrome | 7 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Injection Site Reaction | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
Cardiovascular |
Thrombosis | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 3 |
Hypotension | 5 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
* Event coded in WHO-ART dictionary
† Not otherwise specified
‡ Absolute neutrophil count
Table 9: Adverse Reactions Reported in Patients in the Previously Untreated Advanced Colorectal Cancer Clinical Trial (greater than or equal to 5% of all patients but with less than 1% grade 3-4)
Adverse Reaction*
| Oxaliplatin Injection+ FU/LV N=259 | Irinotecan + FU/LV N=256 | Oxaliplatin Injection+ Irinotecan N=258 |
All Grades (%) | All Grades (%) | All Grades (%) |
Dermatology/Skin |
Alopecia† | 38 | 44 | 67 |
Flushing | 7 | 2 | 5 |
Pruritus | 6 | 4 | 2 |
Dry Skin | 6 | 2 | 5 |
Hematology/Infection |
Fever Normal ANC‡ | 16 | 9 | 9 |
Cardiovascular |
Edema | 15 | 13 | 10 |
Gastrointestinal | |
Taste Perversion | 14 | 6 | 8 |
Dyspepsia | 12 | 7 | 5 |
Flatulence | 9 | 6 | 5 |
Mouth Dryness | 5 | 2 | 3 |
Constitutional Symptoms/Pain/Ocular/Visual |
Headache | 13 | 6 | 9 |
Weight Loss | 11 | 9 | 11 |
Epistaxis | 10 | 2 | 2 |
Tearing | 9 | 1 | 2 |
Rigors | 8 | 2 | 7 |
Dysphasia | 5 | 3 | 3 |
Sweating | 5 | 6 | 12 |
Arthralgia | 5 | 5 | 8 |
Neurology |
Insomnia | 13 | 9 | 11 |
Depression | 9 | 5 | 7 |
Dizziness | 8 | 6 | 10 |
Anxiety | 5 | 2 | 6 |
Allergy/Immunology |
Rash | 11 | 4 | 7 |
Rhinitis Allergic | 10 | 6 | 6 |
Hepatic/Metabolic/Laboratory/Renal |
Hypocalcemia | 7 | 5 | 4 |
Elevated Creatinine | 4 | 4 | 5 |
* Event coded in WHO-ART dictionary
† No complete alopecia was reported
‡ Absolute neutrophil count
Clinically relevant adverse reactions that occurred in greater than or equal to 2% and less than 5% of the patients in the oxaliplatin injection and fluorouracil/leucovorin combination arm (listed in decreasing order of frequency) were: metabolic, pneumonitis, catheter infection, vertigo, prothrombin time, pulmonary, rectal bleeding, dysuria, nail changes, chest pain, rectal pain, syncope, hypertension, hypoxia, unknown infection, bone pain, pigmentation changes, and urticaria.
Table 10: Laboratory-Related Adverse Reactions Occurring in ≥5% of Patients in the Previously Untreated Advanced Colorectal Cancer Trial
Laboratory-Related Adverse Reaction | Oxaliplatin Injectionand FU/LV N=259 | Irinotecan and FU/LV N=256 | Oxaliplatin Injectionand Irinotecan N=258 |
All Grades (%) | Grades 3-4 (%) | All Grades (%) | Grades 3-4 (%) | All Grades (%) | Grades 3-4 (%) |
Hematology |
Leukopenia | 85 | 20 | 84 | 23 | 76 | 24 |
Neutropenia | 81 | 53 | 77 | 44 | 71 | 36 |
Thrombocytopenia | 71 | 5 | 26 | 2 | 44 | 4 |
Anemia | 27 | 3 | 28 | 4 | 25 | 3 |
Hepatic |
Increased AST* | 17 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 1 |
Increased Alkaline Phosphatase | 16 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 14 | 2 |
Hyperbilirubinemia | 6 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
Increased ALT† | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2 |
* Aspartate transaminase
† Alanine transaminase
Previously Treated Advanced Colorectal Cancer
The safety of oxaliplatin injection in combination with fluorouracil (FU)/leucovorin (LV) was evaluated in a randomized trial in patients with refractory and relapsed colorectal cancer
[see Clinical Studies (14.3)]. The adverse reaction profile in this trial was similar to that seen in other trials.
Three patients who received oxaliplatin injection in the combination arm experienced fatal adverse reactions: gastrointestinal bleeding and dehydration.
Grade 3 and 4 neutropenia were reported in 27% and 17% of patients, respectively, in the oxaliplatin injection with fluorouracil/leucovorin combination arm. Grade 3-4 increased serum creatinine occurred in 1% of patients in the oxaliplatin injection with combination fluorouracil/leucovorin arm.
Thirteen percent of patients in the oxaliplatin injection with fluorouracil/leucovorin combination arm discontinued treatment; the most frequent reasons were gastrointestinal adverse reactions, hematologic adverse reactions and neuropathies.
Tables 11, 12, and 13 summarize the adverse reactions reported in the previously treated advanced colorectal cancer trial.
Table 11: Adverse Reactions Reported in Patients in the Previously Treated Advanced Colorectal Cancer Trial (greater than or equal to 5% of all patients and with greater than or equal to 1% grade 3-4)
Adverse Reaction*
| Oxaliplatin Injection+ FU/LV N=150 | Oxaliplatin InjectionN=153 | FU/LV N=142 |
All Grades (%) | Grades 3-4 (%) | All Grades (%) | Grades 3-4 (%) | All Grades (%) | Grades 3-4 (%) |
Neurology |
Neuropathy | 74 | 7 | 76 | 7 | 17 | 0 |
Acute | 56 | 2 | 65 | 5 | 10 | 0 |
Persistent | 48 | 6 | 43 | 3 | 9 | 0 |
Constitutional Symptoms/Pain |
Fatigue | 68 | 7 | 61 | 9 | 52 | 6 |
Back Pain | 19 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 16 | 4 |
Pain | 15 | 2 | 14 | 3 | 9 | 3 |
Gastrointestinal |
Diarrhea | 67 | 11 | 46 | 4 | 44 | 3 |
Nausea | 65 | 11 | 64 | 4 | 59 | 4 |
Vomiting | 40 | 9 | 37 | 4 | 27 | 4 |
Stomatitis | 37 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 32 | 3 |
Abdominal Pain | 33 | 4 | 31 | 7 | 31 | 5 |
Anorexia | 29 | 3 | 20 | 2 | 20 | 1 |
Gastroesophageal Reflux | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Hematology/Infection |
Fever | 29 | 1 | 25 | 1 | 23 | 1 |
Febrile Neutropenia | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Cardiovascular |
Dyspnea | 20 | 4 | 13 | 7 | 11 | 2 |
Coughing | 19 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
Edema | 15 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 13 | 1 |
Thromboembolism | 9 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
Chest Pain | 8 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
Dermatology/Skin |
Injection Site Reaction | 10 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
Hepatic/Metabolic/Laboratory/Renal |
Hypokalemia | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
Dehydration | 8 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 4 |
*Event coded in WHO-ART dictionary
Table 12: Adverse Reactions Reported in Patients in the Previously Treated Advanced Colorectal Cancer Clinical Trial (greater than or equal to 5% of all patients but with less than 1% grade 3-4)
Adverse Reaction*
| Oxaliplatin Injection+ FU/LV N=150 | Oxaliplatin Injection N=153 | FU/LV N=142 |
All Grades (%) | All Grades (%) | All Grades (%) |
Gastrointestinal |
Constipation | 32 | 31 | 23 |
Dyspepsia | 14 | 7 | 10 |
Taste Perversion | 13 | 5 | 1 |
Mucositis | 7 | 2 | 10 |
Flatulence | 5 | 3 | 6 |
Constitutional Symptoms/Pain/Ocular/Visual |
Headache | 17 | 13 | 8 |
Arthralgia | 10 | 7 | 10 |
Epistaxis | 9 | 2 | 1 |
Abnormal Lacrimation | 7 | 1 | 6 |
Rigors | 7 | 9 | 6 |
Allergy/Immunology |
Rhinitis | 15 | 6 | 4 |
Allergic Reaction | 10 | 3 | 1 |
Rash | 9 | 5 | 5 |
Neurology |
Dizziness | 13 | 7 | 8 |
Insomnia | 9 | 11 | 4 |
Dermatology/Skin |
Hand-Foot Syndrome | 11 | 1 | 13 |
Flushing | 10 | 3 | 2 |
Alopecia† | 7 | 3 | 3 |
Pulmonary |
Upper Respiratory Tract Infection | 10 | 7 | 4 |
Pharyngitis | 9 | 2 | 10 |
Cardiovascular |
Peripheral Edema | 10 | 5 | 11 |
Hepatic/Metabolic/Laboratory/Renal |
Hematuria | 6 | 0 | 4 |
Dysuria | 6 | 1 | 1 |
*Event coded in WHO-ART dictionary
† No complete alopecia was reported
Clinically relevant adverse reactions in greater than or equal to 2% and less than 5% of the patients in the oxaliplatin injection and fluorouracil/leucovorin combination arm (listed in decreasing order of frequency) were: anxiety, myalgia, erythematous rash, increased sweating, conjunctivitis, weight decrease, dry mouth, rectal hemorrhage, depression, ataxia, ascites, hemorrhoids, muscle weakness, nervousness, tachycardia, abnormal micturition frequency, dry skin, pruritus, hemoptysis, purpura, vaginal hemorrhage, melena, somnolence, pneumonia, proctitis, involuntary muscle contractions, intestinal obstruction, gingivitis, tenesmus, hot flashes, enlarged abdomen, and urinary incontinence.
Table 13: Laboratory-Related Adverse Reactions Occurring in ≥5% of Patients with Previously Treated Advanced Colorectal Cancer
Laboratory-Related Adverse Reaction | Oxaliplatin Injectionand FU/LV N=150 | Oxaliplatin InjectionN=153 | FU/LV N=142 |
All Grades (%) | Grades 3-4 (%) | All Grades (%) | Grades 3-4 (%) | All Grades (%) | Grades 3-4 (%) |
Hematology |
Anemia | 81 | 2 | 64 | 1 | 68 | 2 |
Leukopenia | 76 | 19 | 13 | 0 | 34 | 1 |
Neutropenia | 73 | 44 | 7 | 0 | 25 | 5 |
Thrombocytopenia | 64 | 4 | 30 | 3 | 20 | 0 |
Hepatic |
Increased ALT* | 31 | 0 | 36 | 1 | 28 | 3 |
Increased AST† | 47 | 0 | 54 | 4 | 39 | 2 |
Increased Bilirubin | 13 | 1 | 13 | 5 | 22 | 6 |
* Alanine transaminase
† Aspartate transaminase
Additional Adverse Reactions
The following adverse reactions were observed across clinical trials.
Intravenous site reactions
Injection site reaction, including redness, swelling, and pain, can occur with oxaliplatin injection. In some cases, skin necrosis has occurred with extravasation.
PRES
PRES occurred in less than 0.1% of patients
.
Pulmonary fibrosis and interstitial lung disease
Pulmonary fibrosis, which may be fatal, occurred in less than 1% of patients.