Treatment principles in advanced colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer is an important disease in the Australian community. Whilst there has been much discussion about the appropriate management of local disease, particularly with respect to the issue of adjuvant therapy, there has been relatively little local discussion of treatment options in metastatic colorectal cancer.

METHODS

The critical principles underlying treatment in this setting are briefly outlined in the present article, indicating wherever possible what options could be considered standard, and based on the available literature, which approaches must still be considered experimental at this time.

RESULTS

Overall, the results of treatment in this group of patients remain poor.

CONCLUSION

Further clinical trials are required to address the issues affecting patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.