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World J Gastrointest Oncol. Jan 15, 2016; 8(1): 99-104
Published online Jan 15, 2016. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v8.i1.99
Novel therapeutic agents in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer
Sachin Gopalkrishna Pai, Jyotsna Fuloria
Sachin Gopalkrishna Pai, Northwestern Medicine Developmental Therapeutics Institute, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
Jyotsna Fuloria, Department of Hematology and Oncology, Ochsner Medical Center, New Orleans, LA 70121, United States
Jyotsna Fuloria, Ochsner Cancer Institute, New Orleans, LA 70121, United States
Author contributions: Pai SG prepared the initial draft; Pai SG and Fuloria J coordinated the revisions; Fuloria J approved the final draft.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Correspondence to: Jyotsna Fuloria, MD, Director, Department of Hematology and Oncology, Ochsner Medical Center, 1514 Jefferson Highway, New Orleans, LA 70121, United States. jfuloria@ochsner.org
Telephone: +1-504-8423708 Fax: +1-504-8424533
Received: May 7, 2015
Peer-review started: October 14, 2015
First decision: October 15, 2015
Revised: October 20, 2015
Accepted: December 3, 2015
Article in press: December 4, 2015
Published online: January 15, 2016
Processing time: 260 Days and 13.7 Hours
Abstract

Over the past couple of decades considerable progress has been made in the management of metastatic colorectal cancers (mCRC) leading to a significant improvement in five-year survival. Although part of this success has been rightly attributed to aggressive surgical management and advances in other adjunct treatments, our understanding of the pathogenesis of cancer and emergence of newer molecular targets for colon cancer has created a powerful impact. In this review article we will discuss various targeted therapies in the management of mCRC. Newer agents on the horizon soon to be incorporated in clinical practice will be briefly reviewed as well.

Keywords: Metastatic colorectal cancer; Molecular targeted drugs; Anti-angiogenesis inhibitors; Epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors; Novel therapeutic agents

Core tip: This article reviews the novel agents in the management of metastatic colorectal cancer. The core principles and the evidence behind the use of these agents are discussed. Clinically relevant features are highlighted to help the health care provider involved in the care of metastatic colorectal cancer patients.