Future directions in adjuvant therapy for stage III colon carcinoma

The current recommendation for adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with newly diagnosed stage III colon cancer involves 6 months of fluorouracil (5-FU) plus low- or high-dose leucovorin. In clinical trials performed throughout the world, several drugs have demonstrated either improved toxicity profiles or antitumor activity for patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma. Uracil and tegafur (UFT) and capecitabine (Xeloda) are two examples of new oral chemotherapy compounds with acceptable side-effect profiles in early adjuvant or advanced disease trials. Irinotecan (CPT-11, Camptosar) and oxaliplatin, when administered intravenously in combination with a 5-FU regimen, have both demonstrated significant antitumor effects for patients with advanced-stage disease. Other immunotherapies, including monoclonal antibodies and cancer vaccines, are being evaluated to help stimulate immune responses in patients with resected colon cancer. These agents are just a few examples of the new compounds being tested in the next generation of clinical trials for resected stage III colon cancer. Future and ongoing investigations will look to integrate these new therapies as we attempt to move beyond the era of 5-FU and leucovorin.