Administration of oxaliplatin to a pregnant woman with rectal cancer

Abstract

Purpose: The platinum agent oxaliplatin could be useful in treatment of cancer in pregnant women, but it is fetotoxic in rats and its effect on the human fetus is unknown.

Methods: Oxaliplatin was administered to a 25-year-old pregnant woman with metastatic rectal cancer from 20 to 30 weeks gestational age as part of the mFOLFOX-6 regimen.

Results: The patient gave birth to a healthy girl at 33 weeks gestational age. At follow-up, the 3-year-old child had achieved all appropriate growth and developmental milestones.

Discussion: Oxaliplatin is a component of several modern chemotherapy regimens. This report demonstrates the administration of oxaliplatin in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy without apparent fetal harm.