[The modern treatment of colorectal cancer. Present and future].

The modern treatment of colorectal cancer. Present and future. Fluorouracyl has been the mainstay of treatment for colorectal cancer for decades.

Changes in apoptotic and mitotic index, bcl2, and p53 expression in rectum carcinomas after short-term cytostatic treatment.

Twenty patients with rectal adenocarcinoma were endoscopically biopsied and given short-term cytostatic therapy [5-fluorouracil (5-FU) (600 mg/m(2)) and Ca-folinate (60 mg/m(2)) for 2 days]. Seven days later, the tumor was resected or a second biopsy was performed. Apoptotic and mitotic indices as well as (mutant) p53 and bcl(2) expression were determined in the tumor tissue before and after the short-term chemotherapy.

Changes in apoptosis, mitosis, Her-2, p53 and Bcl2 expression in breast carcinomas after short-term tamoxifen treatment.

The short-term (7 days) effect of tamoxifen on apoptosis and mitosis index, p53, Bcl2 and Her-2/neu/c-erb2 expression in invasive ductal mammary carcinoma was studied histologically in the diagnostic biopsy and surgically removed tumor tissue of 10 patients. Following tamoxifen treatment expression of HER-2 and p53 decreased but Bcl2 remained unchanged. Mitotic activity decreased slightly, but not significantly.

[[Irinotecan--experience with second-line treatment in advanced colorectal cancer] ].

The prognosis for patients with advanced colorectal cancer who fail to respond to a 5-FU based therapy is poor. About 7% response rate can be achieved with second line therapeutic regiments, the overall survival is about 6-7 months. The aim of authors was to assess the efficacy and toxicity profile of irinotecan (CAMPTO) in patients with advanced colorectal cancer, resistant to 5-FU based chemotherapy.