[New drugs in the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer].
BACKGROUND
Colorectal cancer is one of the leading cancers in industrialised countries in terms of incidence and mortality. Advanced colorectal cancer has traditionally been treated with 5-fluorouracil, alone or in combination with leucovorin. This treatment has shown response rates of 10-25%; however, little effect has been observed on survival.


RESULTS
In recent years, a number of new drugs for advanced colorectal cancer have been developed and tested. We have made a comprehensive survey of the literature and find that phase II and phase III clinical studies show improved response rates compared to the traditional use of 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin. Thymidylate-synthase inhibitors, oxaliplatine and topoisomerase inhibitors, used singly or in combination, improve response rates and show a significant effect on survival in patients with metastatic colorectal disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Several new drugs now available in hospital treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer show improved response and increased survival compared to traditional 5-fluorouracil regimens.
Harboe
K
K
Senter for klinisk molekylaermedisin, Haukeland Sykehus, Bergen.
Todnem
K
K
Zotova
L
L
Lind
A
A
Ogreid
D
D
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil