Chemotherapy as a treatment for colorectal cancer

Abstract:

Because of its high incidence colorectal cancer is an important therapeutic problem. The only curative option is surgical removal in early stages of disease. The vast majority of patients are still diagnosed as advanced disease and for those patients therapeutic options are limited. In the last couple of years a major accomplishment is achieved by using a novel citostatic drugs in adjuvant setting as well as in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. By using combined chemotherapeutic protocols in combination with biological agents, a median survival of more then two years has been accomplished in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy is most often applied and is the best treatment option for patients with rectal cancer.

Key words:
colorectal cancer, chemotherapy