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The role of chemotherapy and adjuvant therapy in the management of colorectal cancer
Author(s) -
Forman Walter B.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19941001)74:7+<2151::aid-cncr2820741724>3.0.co;2-s
Subject(s) - medicine , colorectal cancer , regimen , chemotherapy , oncology , adjuvant , cancer , levamisole , quality of life (healthcare) , intensive care medicine , nursing
This review of the current literature related to the use of chemo‐ and adjuvant chemotherapy in colorectal carcinoma emphasizes the present dilemma in caring for people affected with this disorder. Adjuvant chemotherapy using combinations of 5‐fluorouracil and levamisole clearly prolong survival, albeit, for only a small group of individuals. However, for the older person, this regimen may be associated with unacceptable toxicity and a physician's inability to deliver a dose‐intensive course, as the authors currently understand it. Although quality of life is a clear concern of many older persons, little currently is available to evaluate this parameter during chemotherapy. It remains an important issue to address in the elderly person, because 35% of individuals found to have colorectal carcinoma are older than 65 years. Hopefully, better staging by incorporating molecular biologic techniques will assist in the effort to uncover the best regimens.