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Recent advances in the systemic management of colorectal cancer

    Danish Mazhar

    † Author for correspondence

    Charing Cross Hospital, Department of Medical Oncology, Fulham Palace Road, London, W6 8RF, UK.

    ,
    Justin Stebbing

    Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, Department of Oncology, 369 Fulham Road, London, SW10 9NH, UK.

    &
    Wolfgang Heller

    Charing Cross Hospital, Department of Medical Oncology, Fulham Palace Road, London, W6 8RF, UK.

    Published Online:https://doi.org/10.2217/14796694.2.5.643

    Colorectal cancer represents one of the most prevalent malignancies. There have been considerable improvements in the management of the disease in the last decade, including advances in surgery. In terms of systemic management, 5-fluorouracil, usually with leucovorin, has remained the mainstay of chemotherapy for colorectal cancer in both the adjuvant and metastatic settings. In the late 1990s, irinotecan and oxaliplatin reached the clinical arena, and the introduction of these agents has led to significant improvements in outcomes. More recently, several biopharmaceuticals, including the monoclonal antibodies bevacuzimab and cetuximab, have shown promise in clinical studies. These novel agents are now being incorporated into treatment schedules for colorectal cancer. This review assesses recent improvements in the systemic management of large bowel cancer and highlights future challenges.

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