Diminishing Returns in the Treatment of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: Are Patients Reaching a Survival Plateau

Lencioni Riccardo, Chen James

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Department of Hepatology and Liver Transplantation, Pisa University Hospital and School of Medicine, Pisa, Italy.

DOI: 10.4236/jct.2010.14030                

Abstract

Despite the evolution of treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer (MCRC) over the past decade, improvements in survival endpoints have appeared to reach a plateau. The addition of expensive targeted biologic agents to the therapeutic armamentarium against MCRC have not drastically increased survival, particularly in the realm of second and third line patients, as tumor resistance remains an issue. Original approaches to treating MCRC are needed in order to raise the apparent survival ceiling in these patients.

Keywords

Colorectal Cancer, Chemotherapy, Molecular Targeted Agents

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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