[Colorectal carcinoma: therapeutic approach in patients already treated with metastasis resection].
BACKGROUND
Fluorouracil is the most wildly used agent in the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer after mastectomy, with an overall response rate of 20%. To improve response rate and survival new therapeutic approaches have been designed such as biochemical modulation of fluorouracil, new schedules of infusion and new drugs.


METHODS
Many drugs have been used for biochemical modulation of fluorouracil, and leucovorin is very effective. New schedules of infusion such as continuous i.v. infusion of fluorouracil and new drugs like doxifluridine and irinotecan are promising.


CONCLUSIONS
Literature data suggest that biochemical modulation of fluorouracil by lederfolin is effective in the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer such as continuous i.v. infusion of fluorouracil and new drugs, especially doxifluridine, may improve therapeutic effects.


CONCLUSIONS
Chemotherapy with fluorouracil remain the treatment of choice of patients with colorectal cancer. Further studies are necessary to identify the role of new biochemical modulation, new schedule and new drugs.
Bajetta
E
E
Divisione Oncologia Medica B, Istituto Nazionale per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumoti di Milano.
Cappuzzo
F
F
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D005472:Fluorouracil