Onkológia 4/2020

Personalization of treatment of colorectal cancer in 1st line

Colorectal cancer is the third most common malignancy diagnosed worldwide and the second most common cause of cancer related deaths. Despite ongoing screening programs in recent years, about 25% of patients diagnosed as metastatic disease. Fluoropyrimidinebased chemotherapy has been a cornerstone in the treatment of colorectal cancer, but after occuring of new drugs (irinothecan and oxaliplatin), in combination with fluoropyrimidines, they have significantly contributed to improving overall survival. In the last decade, the development of biologically active drugs as inhibitors of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors has further improved the overall survival of patients with metastatic disease. However, clinical studies have shown that not all patients respond to this treatment equally and therefore the individual characteristics of the patient and the cancer biomarkers need to be take into account. Until recently, the preferred treatment “ one strategy fits all” has changed to a personalized approach to each patient separately. In this review article, we offer a comprehensive overview of the clinical characteristics and tumor markers that influence treatment decisions in metastatic colorectal cancer and are the foundation of personalized medicine.

Keywords: colorectal cancer, personalized treatment