Treatment principles in advanced colorectal cancer.
BACKGROUND
Colorectal cancer is an important disease in the Australian community. Whilst there has been much discussion about the appropriate management of local disease, particularly with respect to the issue of adjuvant therapy, there has been relatively little local discussion of treatment options in metastatic colorectal cancer.


METHODS
The critical principles underlying treatment in this setting are briefly outlined in the present article, indicating wherever possible what options could be considered standard, and based on the available literature, which approaches must still be considered experimental at this time.


RESULTS
Overall, the results of treatment in this group of patients remain poor.


CONCLUSIONS
Further clinical trials are required to address the issues affecting patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.
Zalcberg
J R
JR
Department of Medical Oncology, Austin and Repatriation Medical Centre, Heidelberg West, Victoria, Australia.
Friedlander
M L
ML
Collopy
B T
BT
Barton
M
M
Gray
B
B
D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D012107:Research Design; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome