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First-Line Therapy in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients Not Candidates for Curative Surgery

  • Personalized Medicine in Colorectal Cancer (CMS Rocha-Lima, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Colorectal Cancer Reports

Abstract

Metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality around the world. Novel cytotoxic and biologic therapies have been developed; however, their optimal use in terms of patient selection, drug combinations, and regimen sequences must be better defined. The FDA-approved drugs include fluoropyrimidines (5-fluorouracil (5-FU) with or without leucovorin (LV), capecitabine), irinotecan, oxaliplatin, the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antibody bevacizumab, the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibodies cetuximab and panitumumab for RAS wild-type patients, the VEGF receptors 1 and 2 fusion protein aflibercept and the multitarget tyrosine kinase inhibitor regorafenib. As a result, metastatic colorectal cancer median overall survival can now be as long as 33 months and up to 70 % of patients will receive at least two lines of treatment. Recent scientific and technologic advances in the field of metastatic colorectal cancer promise to elucidate the biological underpinnings of this disease and its therapies for the goal of improving personalized treatments for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

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Andre M. Murad and Lucas S. Murad declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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  1. Oncology Service, Hospital das Clinicas, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Rua Piaui, 150, Belo Horizonte, MG, 30150-320, Brazil

    Andre M. Murad & Lucas S. Murad

  2. CENANTRON—Centro Avançado de Tratamento Oncológico, Rua Piaui, 150, Belo Horizonte, MG, 30150-320, Brazil

    Andre M. Murad & Lucas S. Murad

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  1. Andre M. Murad
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Correspondence to Andre M. Murad.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Personalized Medicine in Colorectal Cancer

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Murad, A.M., Murad, L.S. First-Line Therapy in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients Not Candidates for Curative Surgery. Curr Colorectal Cancer Rep 11, 54–69 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11888-015-0259-4

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