Colorectal cancer: old challenges, new issues

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Although modulated fluorouracil is still the mainstay of antineoplastic treatment for colorectal cancer, it is now joined by newer therapeutic approaches, including the use of topoisomerase I inhibitors and specific thymidylate synthase inhibitors. Recent phase III data on the thymidylate synthase inhibitor Tomudex® [ZD-1694] have shown that the efficacy of this agent is comparable to that of the Mayo regimen (fluorouracil + calcium folinate). The results of this study, and other news relating to improved therapy for colorectal cancer, were presented at a Zenecasponsored symposium held at the 8th European Cancer Conference [ECCO 8; Paris, France; November 1995 ].