Current and emerging surveillance strategies to expand the window of opportunity for curative treatment after surgery in colorectal cancer

Author： Lin Koo Si Wen Jin Hang Hillmer Axel Cheah Peh Yean Tan Patrick Tan Iain Beehuat

Publisher： Informa Healthcare

ISSN： 1473-7140

Source： Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy, Vol.13, Iss.4, 2013-04, pp. : 439-450

Disclaimer: Any content in publications that violate the sovereignty, the constitution or regulations of the PRC is not accepted or approved by CNPIEC.

Previous Menu Next

Abstract

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer globally. At diagnosis, more than 70% of patients have nonmetastatic disease. Cure rates for early-stage colorectal cancer have improved with primary screening, improvements in surgical techniques and advances in adjuvant chemotherapy. Despite optimal primary treatment, 30-50% of these patients will still relapse. While death will result from widespread metastatic disease, patients with small volume oligometastatic disease are still considered curable with aggressive multimodality therapy. Hence, early detection of relapsed cancer when it is still amenable to resection expands the window of opportunity for cure. Here, the authors review the modalities currently employed in clinical practice and the evidence supporting intensive surveillance strategies. The authors also discuss ongoing clinical trials examining specific surveillance programs and emerging modalities that may be deployed in the future for early detection of metastatic disease.