title: First-line therapeutic strategies in metastatic colorectal cancer.
abstract: The treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) has changed dramatically from the 1980s, when only fluorouracil (5-FU) was available for treatment and the median survival was at best 12 months, to a time when mCRC is considered more of a chronic disease in which the median survival is now reported in excess of 2 years. This review traces the evolution of treatment in this setting, including studies of single-agent vs combination treatment with 5-FU/leucovorin, irinotecan, oxaliplatin, and capecitabine, comparisons of simultaneous and sequential regimens, and the role of targeted agents such as bevacizumab, cetuximab, and panitumumab.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27590, USA.
authors.forename: Janine M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: Richard M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Goldberg
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D000069287:Capecitabine; D000068579:Celecoxib; D000068818:Cetuximab; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D000077544:Panitumumab; D011379:Prognosis; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D011720:Pyrazoles; D011799:Quinazolines; D013449:Sulfonamides; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D016685:Mitomycin; D000069287:Capecitabine; D000077544:Panitumumab; D000077146:Irinotecan; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D000068579:Celecoxib; D000068818:Cetuximab; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil; D002166:Camptothecin