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Chemotherapy, which drugs and when

2009; Elsevier BV; Volume: 45; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/s0959-8049(09)70016-4

1879-0852

Miriam Koopman, Cornelis J.A. Punt,

Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treatment and Prognosis

The median overall survival (OS) of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) is significantly increased by the use of chemotherapy. Although new targeted agents such as antibodies to the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) have provided additional benefit to mCRC patients, chemotherapy remains the backbone of treatment. The available cytotoxic drugs with proven efficacy are the fluoropyrimidines [5-fluorouracil (5-FU), capecitabine, uracil/tegafur (UFT/LV)], irinotecan, and oxaliplatin. In this review we will summarise the most relevant data concerning the efficacy of each of these drugs, their use in combination chemotherapy, their sequential versus combined use as well as their preferred sequence, the optimal time to initiate treatment, the optimal duration of treatment, its use as neo-adjuvant treatment in patients with potentially resectable metastases, and the current status of predictive markers for outcome.