Oncology
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New drugs improved efficacy or convenience of treatment in metastatic colorectal cancer. The oral fluoropyrimidines capecitabine and UFT are less toxic but equally efficacious relative to intravenous bolus 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)/folinic acid (FA). These agents might be beneficial for patients who unlikely benefit from the more intensive combination therapy with infusional 5-FU/FA and irinotecan or oxaliplatin. ⋯ New targets in the treatment of colorectal cancer are the EGF and VEGF receptor. The monoclonal EGF receptor antibody cetuximab alone and in combination with irinotecan is active in second-line treatment. The VEGF antibody bevacizumab prolongs survival when given in combination with 5-FU/FA and irinotecan.