Treatment of advanced or recurrent colorectal cancer with irinotecan in Japan and elsewhere.
BACKGROUND
Dramatic prolongation of the survival of patients with advanced or recurrent colorectal cancer has been achieved by multi-drug chemotherapy using agents such as continuous 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin, irinotecan (CPT-11), L-OHP, bevacizumab and cetuximab.


OBJECTIVE
To explain the background of CPT-11 and to discuss its role in the treatment of advanced or recurrent colorectal cancer in Japan and elsewhere together with the authors' own experience.
Sato
Takeo
T
Kitasato University East Hospital, Department of Surgery, 2-1-1, Asamizodai, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 228-8520, Japan. takeo@kitasato-u.ac.jp
Hatate
Kazuhiko
K
Ikeda
Atsushi
A
Yamanashi
Takahiro
T
Ozawa
Heita
H
Onosato
Wataru
W
Nakamura
Takatoshi
T
Ihara
Atsushi
A
Watanabe
Masahiko
M
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D007564:Japan; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy; D015996:Survival Rate; D059004:Topoisomerase I Inhibitors
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D059004:Topoisomerase I Inhibitors; D000077146:Irinotecan; D002166:Camptothecin