Advances in Colon Cancer Treatment: A Comprehensive Review of Randomized Clinical Trials

Strategic Insights -

Researchers at the University of Southern Florida's H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute have conducted a comprehensive review of randomized clinical trials examining novel treatment advances in patients with colon cancer. The review, published in the Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology, highlights recent advancements in surgical approach, adjuvant therapies, and perioperative care, which have significantly improved treatment outcomes for colon cancer patients. Financial support for this research was provided by Merck & Company, AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, and Bayer AG.

Key Takeaways:

  • The review examines randomized clinical trials comparing open surgery to laparoscopic surgery, including total mesocolic excision, and the role of robotic surgery in treating colon cancer.
  • Novel surgical techniques, such as the no-touch technique, side-to-side anastomosis, suture technique, complete mesocolic excision with central vascular ligation, and natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery, are outlined and discussed.
  • The role of endoscopic self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) for colonic obstruction is compared and contrasted with the surgical approach, and the effect of the anti-VEGF inhibitor bevacizumab on this side effect profile is explored.
  • The review examines the role of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with high-risk stage II and stage III disease, as well as the role of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and biologic targeted agents cetuximab and bevacizumab.
  • The authors detail postoperative surveillance schedules after surgical resection with respect to survival outcomes.
  • Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathways are examined as a means of accelerating post-surgical recovery.

Statistics:

  • 790-802: Page numbers of the study in the Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology (2020, Vol. 11(4)).
  • 3 Kwan St, Shatin, Hong Kong 00000, Peoples R China: Address of the publisher of the Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology.
  • 33620, United States: Zip code of the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute.

Sources:

  • Comprehensive Literature Review of Randomized Clinical Trials Examining Novel Treatment Advances In Patients With Colon Cancer. Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology, 2020;11(4):790-802. (Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology)