Chemotherapy for colorectal cancer in the metastatic and adjuvant setting: past, present and future.

There have been significant advances in the use of chemotherapy in the treatment of colorectal cancer patients over the last 20 years. Initial improvements in treatment were made with increased understanding of the pharmacology of 5-fluorouracil and the discovery of modulators of its activity (e.g.,...

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Main Authors: Sabharwal, A, Kerr, D
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: 2007
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author Sabharwal, A
Kerr, D
author_facet Sabharwal, A
Kerr, D
author_sort Sabharwal, A
collection OXFORD
description There have been significant advances in the use of chemotherapy in the treatment of colorectal cancer patients over the last 20 years. Initial improvements in treatment were made with increased understanding of the pharmacology of 5-fluorouracil and the discovery of modulators of its activity (e.g., leucovorin). However, in the last few years the discovery of new cytotoxic drugs with efficacy in large bowel cancer (e.g., oxaliplatin and irinotecan) and monoclonal antibodies (e.g., bevacizumab and cetuximab) have significantly improved patient outcome and prognosis. Systemic chemotherapy in the metastatic setting has been shown to prolong survival and improve quality of life. Chemotherapy now also has a clear role as an adjunct to surgery to improve survival in stage III and certain 'high-risk' stage II colorectal cancer patients. The evolution of chemotherapy use, current practice in the metastatic and adjuvant setting and possible future directions are discussed.
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spelling oxford-uuid:fa9c7295-0377-4cb8-9d0d-d94ec7dc2c702022-03-27T13:07:10ZChemotherapy for colorectal cancer in the metastatic and adjuvant setting: past, present and future.Journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:fa9c7295-0377-4cb8-9d0d-d94ec7dc2c70EnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2007Sabharwal, AKerr, DThere have been significant advances in the use of chemotherapy in the treatment of colorectal cancer patients over the last 20 years. Initial improvements in treatment were made with increased understanding of the pharmacology of 5-fluorouracil and the discovery of modulators of its activity (e.g., leucovorin). However, in the last few years the discovery of new cytotoxic drugs with efficacy in large bowel cancer (e.g., oxaliplatin and irinotecan) and monoclonal antibodies (e.g., bevacizumab and cetuximab) have significantly improved patient outcome and prognosis. Systemic chemotherapy in the metastatic setting has been shown to prolong survival and improve quality of life. Chemotherapy now also has a clear role as an adjunct to surgery to improve survival in stage III and certain 'high-risk' stage II colorectal cancer patients. The evolution of chemotherapy use, current practice in the metastatic and adjuvant setting and possible future directions are discussed.
spellingShingle Sabharwal, A
Kerr, D
Chemotherapy for colorectal cancer in the metastatic and adjuvant setting: past, present and future.
title Chemotherapy for colorectal cancer in the metastatic and adjuvant setting: past, present and future.
title_full Chemotherapy for colorectal cancer in the metastatic and adjuvant setting: past, present and future.
title_fullStr Chemotherapy for colorectal cancer in the metastatic and adjuvant setting: past, present and future.
title_full_unstemmed Chemotherapy for colorectal cancer in the metastatic and adjuvant setting: past, present and future.
title_short Chemotherapy for colorectal cancer in the metastatic and adjuvant setting: past, present and future.
title_sort chemotherapy for colorectal cancer in the metastatic and adjuvant setting past present and future
work_keys_str_mv AT sabharwala chemotherapyforcolorectalcancerinthemetastaticandadjuvantsettingpastpresentandfuture
AT kerrd chemotherapyforcolorectalcancerinthemetastaticandadjuvantsettingpastpresentandfuture