FOLFOX (Sanofi)

FOLFOX is a standard-of-care combination chemotherapy regimen comprising folinic acid (leucovorin), fluorouracil (5-FU), and oxaliplatin. It is a cornerstone in the treatment of gastrointestinal malignancies, particularly colorectal cancer. The regimen's efficacy is derived from the synergistic actions of its three components: oxaliplatin, a platinum-based alkylating agent, induces cytotoxic effects by forming intra- and inter-strand DNA crosslinks that inhibit replication and transcription; fluorouracil, an antimetabolite, inhibits thymidylate synthase to disrupt DNA synthesis; and folinic acid stabilizes the binding of fluorouracil to thymidylate synthase, thereby enhancing its therapeutic activity. FOLFOX is administered intravenously and is used as adjuvant therapy for high-risk stage II and stage III colon cancer, as well as a first-line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer, often in combination with targeted biologics such as bevacizumab or cetuximab.

Other names

FOLFOX-4FOLFOX4FOLFOX 4FOLFOX-6FOLFOX6FOLFOX 6mFOLFOX6mFOLFOX-6mFOLFOX 6folinic acid + fluorouracil + oxaliplatin