Molecular markers of chemotherapeutic response and toxicity in colorectal cancer

Outcomes in colorectal cancer have improved over the last 15 years; this is in part due to the optimization of 5-fluorouracil schedules and the introduction of new and effective chemotherapeutic agents, such as irinotecan and oxaliplatin. However, not all patients respond to these agents and a proportion may suffer severe side effects from particular chemotherapy drugs. These observations have resulted in a concerted research effort to identify markers of chemotherapy efficacy and toxicity. Here we review the evidence for using molecular markers to individualize chemotherapy treatment in colorectal cancer.