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Previous Volume 352:476-487 February 3, 2005 Number 5 Next

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Colorectal cancer is the third most common malignant disease and the second most frequent cause of cancer-related death in the United States, with 145,290 new cases and 56,290 deaths anticipated in 2005.¹ Worldwide, colorectal cancer is the fourth most commonly diagnosed malignant disease, with an estimated 1,023,000 new cases and 529,000 deaths each year.²

When the role of systemic treatment for colorectal cancer was last reviewed in the Journal, in 1994,³ fluorouracil was the only effective chemotherapeutic drug for this cancer; much exciting progress has occurred since then. Accordingly, in this review, we will consider newer cytotoxic chemotherapies and biologic . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Staging and Other Prognostic Indicators

Fluoropyrimidines

Mechanisms of Action and Dose Scheduling of Fluorouracil

Oral Fluoropyrimidines

Adjuvant Therapy with Fluorouracil

Regional Therapy with Fluoropyrimidines

Irinotecan

Mechanisms of Action and Toxic Effects

Treatment of Metastatic Disease with Irinotecan

Oxaliplatin

Mechanisms of Action and Toxic Effects

Treatment of Metastatic Disease with Oxaliplatin

Is There an Optimal First-Line Therapy for Metastatic Disease?

Incorporation of Oxaliplatin and Irinotecan into Adjuvant Therapy

Targeted Therapies

Cetuximab

Bevacizumab

Future Directions and Challenges

Source Information

From the Department of Medical Oncology, Dana–Farber Cancer Institute; the Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital; and the Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School — all in Boston.

Address reprint requests to Dr. Meyerhardt at the Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney St., Boston, MA 02115.

Related Letters:

Therapy for Colorectal Cancer
Kountouras J., Zavos C., Chatzopoulos D., Jankilevich G., Masland W. S., Etzioni S., Rosenfeld K., Meyerhardt J. A., Mayer R. J.
Extract | Full Text | PDF  
N Engl J Med 2005; 352:1820-1822, Apr 28, 2005. Correspondence

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