Trials for a new platinum-based drug used in treating advanced colorectal cancer are proving successful, according to reports from the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

A meeting of the society heard from a French led team based at the Saint Antoine Hospital in Paris that patients treated with the platinum agent oxaliplatin were more likely to be free from the disease three years after starting the regime than those on standard treatment.

The study, which involved more than 2,000 people in 20 different countries, saw half of the patients receive the therapy known as FOLFOX, which includes the drugs leucovorin and oxaliplatin, while the other group underwent standard treatment.

More than three quarters of those who received FOLFOX had no signs of cancer recurrence three years after treatment, a discernible increase on those who received standard therapy.

'We are very encouraged by these results and expect that they will change the standard of care for many patients with colorectal cancer,' said lead investigator Dr Aimery de Gramont.

The team point out, however, that the follow-up time in the study was too short to determine the treatment's effect on survival, with more studies now expected before the platinum-based procedure is extended.