title: Current stage-specific chemotherapeutic options in colon cancer.
abstract: Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Until recently, chemotherapeutic treatment options were limited to various 5-fluorouracil-leucovorin combinations. However, the last 10 years have seen rapid developments in the treatment of colon cancer. These include the introduction of two additional chemotherapeutic agents, irinotecan and oxaliplatin. Additional agents have been developed, namely the targeted therapies in the form of the monoclonal antibodies bevacizumab and cetuximab. The oral forms of chemotherapy (i.e., capecitabine and uracil-tegafur) have been demonstrated to be as efficacious as traditional intravenously administered 5-fluorouracil. As a result, the number of possible treatment options available to patients has increased dramatically. The aim of this review is to report the currently accepted stage-specific chemotherapeutic treatment options for colon cancer, the evidence for these regimens and future developments.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 6120 Executive Blvd, EPS, Rm 7016, Rockville, MD 20852, USA. martmich@mail.nih.gov
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010347:Patient Care Planning
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents