Developments in combination chemotherapy for colorectal cancer.
In the last 5 years, major advances have occurred in the treatment of colorectal cancer. Following a period of over 30 years in which 5-fluorouracil was the only proven treatment for colorectal cancer, survival for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer has nearly doubled following the introduction of irinotecan (Campto, Aventis) and oxaliplatin (Eloxatin, Sanofi-Synthelabo). Furthermore, recent studies have demonstrated additional improvements in response and survival when combination chemotherapy drugs are administered with biologic agents that target angiogenesis and tumor growth pathways. The benefit of these newer drugs is now being realized in the adjuvant setting, where the addition of oxaliplatin to infusional 5-fluorouracil/leucovrin has led to improvements in disease-free survival. Further adjuvant studies are testing the benefit of the addition of biologic therapies to oxaliplatin and irinotecan-based combination chemotherapy.
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Department of Oncology, 200 First Street Southwest, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. Goetz.Matthew@mayo.edu
Matthew P
MP
Goetz
Axel
A
Grothey
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000077150:Oxaliplatin
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D000077146:Irinotecan; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil; D002166:Camptothecin