Discussion on the use of bevacizumab as first line palliative therapy in patients with colorectal cancer with metastases limited to the liver

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in the world (excluding non-melanoma skin cancers). Worldwide, CRC is responsible for over 600,000 deaths annually and remains a significant public health concern. Because of therapeutic advancements over the past two decades, patients with metastatic CRC are living longer with an improved quality of life. Cytotoxic treatment regimens have demonstrated greater efficacy and contributed to a significant improvement in survival. Strategies for treating CRC are varied, but often use chemotherapy in combination with targeted therapies (biological). Bevacizumab is a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody that selectively binds to human vascular endothelial growth factor. It is crucial that all treatment decisions for systemic colorectal liver metastases should derived based on appropriate multidisciplinary considerations.