Second-line Therapy for Advanced Colorectal Cancer

Several cytotoxic agents are now available for patients with advanced colorectal cancer. As a result, second-line therapy has become a vital component of optimal therapy for this disease. Although the optimal use of cytotoxic agents is now relatively well understood, novel signaling inhibitors such as cetuximab and bevacizumab are now making an impact on second-line therapy. Further randomized trials are underway and will help to define the optimal use of all available agents for patients who have progressed following first-line therapy.