Treatment Strategies in Colorectal Cancer

Abstract

Colorectal cancer is known to be one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers worldwide. It maintains a high mortality rate despite the newest methodological therapeutic approaches adopted in various academic establishments. The treatment modalities in colorectal cancer follow the degree of disease progression based on staging information. Earliest the cancer is diagnosed, the highest the possibility to be cured. Different strategies are being involved in treating colorectal cancer, starting from simple endoscopic polypectomy to remove a potential malignant polyp, to wider surgical intervention to get rid of a primary unmetastasized tumor, to other concomitant radio-chemotherapy combinations to reduce a bulky tumor rendering it operable, ending in more sophisticated chemotherapeutical regimens combined with targeted drugs to shrink the metastatic lesions and prolong survival rate. Different new treatments are being investigated with a sole aim to preserve the patient's quality of life and extend life span.

Utilising Proteomics and Organoid Cultures for Predicting Treatment Response in Colorectal Cancer

“…Different approaches are considered when treating CRC, starting with simple endoscopic polypectomy to remove any polyps which are benign or potentially malignant, to more sophisticated surgical interventions to eradicate non-metastatic primary tumours. Stage 0 to early-Stage II CRC are normally curative through surgery [4,9], however nowadays some patients are inoperable due to bulky tumours. Thus, a range of therapy regimens are selected to shrink the metastatic lesion, which prolongs patient survival rates and reduces risk of metastatic spread due to microscopic tumour foci, distant from the primary tumour location [3,9].…”

“…Thus, a range of therapy regimens are selected to shrink the metastatic lesion, which prolongs patient survival rates and reduces risk of metastatic spread due to microscopic tumour foci, distant from the primary tumour location [3,9]. Nowadays, Stage I/II CRC patients can also receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy, while late III/IV stages CRC receive adjuvant treatment (Table 2), with the latter form of therapy at times also being administered to high risk stratified Stage II CRC patients [4,5]. Cytotoxic agents [5,8], administered as single agents or in combination, immunotherapy [38], targeted therapy [40] and sometimes radiotherapy [4], are the main treatment regimens for CRC (Table 2).…”

“…Nowadays, Stage I/II CRC patients can also receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy, while late III/IV stages CRC receive adjuvant treatment (Table 2), with the latter form of therapy at times also being administered to high risk stratified Stage II CRC patients [4,5]. Cytotoxic agents [5,8], administered as single agents or in combination, immunotherapy [38], targeted therapy [40] and sometimes radiotherapy [4], are the main treatment regimens for CRC (Table 2). Through these approaches, clinicians attempt to improve the response rate and overall survival of patients, especially those with metastatic CRC (mCRC).…”

“…To deal with CRC progression and metastasis, different staging and classification systems together with different modes of treatment have been established throughout the years [4,5]. Despite the advancements made in therapeutic strategies, CRC mortality rate remains high, and development of chemoresistance due to different circumstances remains a major constraint to patients being treated [6][7][8].…”

The evaluation of Paclitaxel effects on the Caco-2 cell line of colon cancer patients

“…Treatment strategies for colon cancer patients depend on the size, location, and extent of the tumor, and the treatment is either surgical (local or partial removal) or chemotherapy or radiotherapy or all of them [5]. Chemotherapy is an anticancer drug used before or after surgery [6]. 5-Fluorouracil is the mainstay of chemotherapy in colon cancer patients.…”