Clinical, laboratory and molecular factors predicting chemotherapy efficacy and toxicity in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment has evolved significantly over the last ten years with the use of active chemotherapeutic agents including fluoropyrimidines, oxaliplatin and irinotecan plus targeted monoclonal antibodies bevacizumab, cetuximab and panitumumab. The addition of newer chemotherapeutic agents and targeted therapies has improved patient outcomes at the cost of increased toxicity with not all patients benefiting from these treatments. It is necessary for clinicians to more accurately predict clinical outcomes particularly in the predominantly elderly CRC patient population. This review aims to summarise existing data regarding the use of clinical and laboratory variables plus molecular markers in predicting response, survival and toxicity to chemotherapy agents and targeted monoclonal antibodies currently used in the treatment of CRC.