Onkologie. 2008:2(1):17-22

The overview of nonsurgical treatment of colorectal cancer

Karel Cwiertka

Onkologická klinika FN a LF UP, Olomouc

Nonsurgical treatment of colorectal cancer has developped significantly over the last 10 years. New cytostatic medications occured for systemic therapy, i. e. Irinotekan, oxaliplatinum and others. Their combination with fluoropyrimidines lead to significant improvement in survival without evidence of the disease and also overall survival (median of the overall survival reached 20 months). Other important factor is the beginning of targeted biological therapy. The approval of bevacizumab in combinations for the first line therapy, cetuximab and panitumumab for further lines of treatment of metastatic cancer not only broadens options of therapy but brings a promise of further improvement in survival. In the treatment of metastatic disease with isolated involvement of one organ a surgical treatment is considered on the first place, nevertheless introduction of effective chemotherapy enables survival longer than 5 years in 35–40 % of patients. New therapeutic combinations influence also postoperative adjuvant therapy. Combination with oxaliplatinum lead to prolongation of survival without evidence of the disease. Radiotherapy which is almost exclusively used in the treatment of rectal cancer is indicated separately (eventually in combination with chemotherapy) in inoperable tumors, further as neoadjuvant, eventuaklly adjuvant therapy. Currently a number of clinical studies that can in near future significantly influence the treatment of colorectal cancer is going on.

Keywords: colorectal cancer, chemotherapy, targeted biological therapy, radiotherapy

Published: April 1, 2008  Show citation