The clinical efficacy of colorectal tumor treatment is restricted due to platinum agent resistance. Translesion DNA synthesis (TLS) has been shown to contribute to this resistance; however, the exact molecular mechanism remains unknown. The present study aimed to investigate the possible function of the core of the TLS polymerase mitotic arrest deficient 2 like 2 (MAD2L2) in drug sensitivity, in order to provide a treatment rationale for platinum-based chemotherapy in colon cancer. In the present study, MAD2L2 was knocked down using MAD2L2-specific small interfering (si)RNA. HCT116 and SW620 cells were treated with oxaliplatin and MG132; oxaliplatin is a platinum compound that induces DNA damage and MG132 is a potent proteasome inhibitor. Cell viability was determined using an MTT assay. Cell apoptosis was examined via flow cytometry and TUNEL assay. The activity of proteasome 26S subunit, non-ATPase 13 (PSMD13) was detected using ELISA, while the expression levels of apoptotic-related proteins were detected via western blotting. The results demonstrated that cells treated with oxaliplatin or MG132 alone had decreased viability, but a synergistic effect was not observed after co-treatment. In addition, the knockdown of MAD2L2 caused by siMAD2L2 or oxaliplatin treatment increased the expression levels of the pro-apoptotic proteins Bax and Bak and decreased the expression levels of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, compared with the negative control group. Moreover, MG132 alleviated the decrease in MAD2L2 expression, while reducing siMAD2L2-induced cell apoptosis. These results indicate that oxaliplatin promotes siMAD2L2-induced apoptosis in colon cancer cells. This process was associated with the Bcl-2 and ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Overall, the present study provides a theoretical basis for improving the clinical efficacy of colon cancer by combining chemotherapy and gene therapy.