title: Chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer.
abstract: The past decade has seen a significant survival improvement for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, fueled in large part by the arrival of active novel chemotherapeutic drugs and their incorporation into combination regimens. Several randomized trials have successfully integrated oxaliplatin and irinotecan into previously existing 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-based regimens for advanced colorectal cancer, resulting in median survivals that have risen from 9 months to almost 2 years. Even as the ideal combinations and sequences of these regimens are elucidated, targeted therapies such as recently approved bevacizumab and cetuximab have been added to treatment protocols, with favorable consequences. We review the evolution of primary chemotherapy for advanced colorectal cancer, focusing on the trials that have led to the new standard first-line treatments. We also review the data on newer targeted therapies, especially in combination with cytotoxic therapy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1500 East Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rosales
authors.forename: Lucille A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Leong
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069287:Capecitabine; D000068818:Cetuximab; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary*; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077150:Oxaliplatin
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D000069287:Capecitabine; D000077146:Irinotecan; D000068818:Cetuximab; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil; D002166:Camptothecin