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The ASCRS Textbook of Colon and Rectal Surgery pp 547–554Cite as

Colorectal Cancer: Postoperative Adjuvant Therapy

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Abstract

Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy improves survival and reduces the rate of recurrence for patients with stage III colon cancer and may also improve survival in some subgroups of patients with stage II colon cancer. The recommended chemotherapeutic regimens, FOLFOX [Folinic acid (leucovorin) + 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) + Oxaliplatin (Eloxatin)] or CapeOx (capecitabine + oxaliplatin), are more effective than past regimens, but also have more side effects. Since 5-year survival rates are improved 20–25 % with adjuvant therapy, all patients with stage III colon cancer should be evaluated for postoperative chemotherapy. For rectal cancer, neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy is recommended for all clinical stage II and III disease to decrease recurrence. In addition, all clinical and/or histologic stage II and III rectal cancers should be considered for adjuvant chemotherapy. This chapter will review the indications, data, and outcomes for adjuvant therapy for colon and rectal cancer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgical Oncology, City of Hope, 1500 E. Duarte Road, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA

    Stephen M. Sentovich M.D., M.B.A.

  2. Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutic Diagnostics, City of Hope Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA

    Marwan Fakih M.D.

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  1. Stephen M. Sentovich M.D., M.B.A.
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Correspondence to Stephen M. Sentovich M.D., M.B.A. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Colorectal Surgery, University Hospitals Case Medical Center Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Scott R. Steele

  2. Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Tracy L. Hull

  3. Tufts University School of Medicine, Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Burlington, MA, USA

    Thomas E. Read

  4. Ambrose and Gladys Bowyer, Loyola University, Chicago, IL, USA

    Theodore J. Saclarides

  5. University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, USA

    Anthony J. Senagore

  6. Ochsner Medical Center, New Orleans, LA, USA

    Charles B. Whitlow

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Sentovich, S.M., Fakih, M. (2016). Colorectal Cancer: Postoperative Adjuvant Therapy. In: Steele, S.R., Hull, T.L., Read, T.E., Saclarides, T.J., Senagore, A.J., Whitlow, C.B. (eds) The ASCRS Textbook of Colon and Rectal Surgery. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-25970-3_33

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