Targeted therapy for colorectal cancer.

There has been a revolution in the treatment of colorectal cancer over the last decade. Part of this revolution has been the discovery of agents that target particular aspects of cancer, namely vascular endothelial growth factor and epidermal growth factor receptor. Novel targeted agents have been evaluated in clinical trials and have demonstrated significant anticancer activity. Furthermore, a number of these compounds have been approved for clinical use. Data supporting the use of targeted agents in the treatment of colorectal cancer are reviewed, and the "future for potential novel agents and pathways are discussed.