ABSTRACT
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer and second leading cause of
death from cancer in North America. The authors provide an overview of the indications
for both chemotherapy and targeted therapy, as well as discuss the efficacy and toxicity
of systemic therapy. They highlight the key studies that lead to the initial historical
use of fluorouracil (5FU) based chemotherapy in the adjuvant and metastatic setting,
the recent adoption of 5FU plus leucovorin (LV) and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) chemotherapy
over 5FU when treating adjuvant patients, and the use of FOLFOX or 5FU plus LV and
irinotecan (FOLFIRI) in metastatic patients. They also review the role of chemotherapy
in treating rectal cancer and resectable liver metastatic disease. Future areas of
research focus for systemic therapy of colorectal cancer are highlighted.
KEYWORDS
Chemotherapy - adjuvant therapy - targeted therapy - metastatic
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Timothy R AsmisM.D.
The Ottawa Hospital Regional Cancer Centre
501 Smyth Rd., Box 913, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1H 8L6
eMail: tasmis@ottawahospital.on.ca
