[Chemotherapy of advanced and recurrent colorectal cancer]

Colorectal cancer is one of the most resistant tumors to chemotherapy. The efficacy of many kinds of anti-tumor drugs to the patients with colorectal cancer had been investigated, however most of the drugs was not effective or showed low response rates. As a few effective anti-tumor drug, 5-FU and its derivatives, nitrosoureas and mitomycin C were indicated. Response rates of combinations of these drugs were 20-30%. Methotrexate-5-FU with leucovorin therapy at proper administration intervals showed relatively high response rate to the patients. Effects of intra-arterial infusion of the drugs which often performed to the liver metastases were not so well as expected. Developments of new anti-tumor agents were essential.