title: [Adjuvant chemotherapy in cancers of the colon and rectum].
abstract: The high incidence of recurrence in patients with resected colorectal cancer at Dukes' stages B2, B3 and C indicates that these patients have micrometastases at the time of surgery and demonstrates the need for adjuvant therapy. Studies using 5-FU alone led to negative results. The combination of 5-FU and levamisole given every week during 1 year was shown to be an effective adjuvant treatment, significantly increasing survival at 5 years from 55% to 71% (p = 0.006). Other treatment modalities are under investigation. Leucovorin increases 5-FU activity in advanced cancers. A combination of the two could thus play an important role in adjuvant treatment. No results are available regarding the compared effects of 5-FU/folinic acid, 5-FU folinic acid/levamisole to 5-FU/levamisole. Portal vein chemotherapy with 5-FU administered during 7 days after surgery has been studies as well, and could also be effective. An association of a short postoperative course of intraportal chemotherapy with intravenous chemotherapy over several months may lead to a further improvement of survival in patients with colorectal cancer. Despite the substantial advances made in the adjuvant treatment of colorectal cancer, progress will be obtained only through continual research.
authors.affiliation: Centre des Tumeurs de l'Université Libre de Bruxelles, Institut Jules Bordet.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bleiberg
mesh_terms: D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007978:Levamisole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D007978:Levamisole; D005472:Fluorouracil
vernacular_title: Chimiothérapie adjuvante des cancers du côlon et du rectum.