ADJUVANT THERAPY FOR COLORECTAL CANCER

Abstract

Patients with resected colon cancer (stage III [T1 to T4, N1-N2] or high-risk stage II [T3 or T4, N0]) or stage II/III rectal cancers (T3 or T4, N0-2) are at significant risk of local and distant failure, with reduced survival due to microscopic residual disease. To reduce this risk, adjuvant therapy has been the standard of care for both cancer populations, as stated in the 2005 Guidelines for the Prevention, Early Detection and Management of Colorectal Cancer developed through Cancer Council Australia's Clinical Guidelines Network.This review provides an update to the guidelines. Patients, with resected stage III colon cancer should, where possible, be offered six months of adjuvant chemot..