title: New chemotherapeutic strategies in colorectal cancer.
abstract: Since colorectal cancer is the second most prevalent cancer worldwide, its treatment remains a major challenge for researchers, gastroenterologists and oncologists. Despite curative resections, half of all patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer die because of their underlying disease. Integral chemotherapeutic components of standard regimens are 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), its modulation by folinic acid and irinotecan or oxaliplatin. All these drugs sequentially given have results in terms of median overall survival of more than 20 months in the palliative treatment of advanced colorectal cancer. Oral fluoropyrimidines, currently under clinical investigation, are likely to substitute continuous 5-FU. Inhibitors of growth factor receptors or their signaling may further prolong disease-free and overall survival rates. Preliminary evidence exists that improved adjuvant and neoadjuvant chemotherapy strategies may further improve the prognosis, mainly because more patients are able to go for primary or secondary surgery with curative intent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Johannes-Gutenberg University Mainz, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany. moehler@mail.uni-mainz.de
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moehler
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Teufel
authors.forename: Peter R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Galle
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000639:trends; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D010166:Palliative Care; D011355:Prodrugs / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D011355:Prodrugs; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D000077146:Irinotecan; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil; D002166:Camptothecin