Drug That Cuts Off Tumor's Blood Supply Extends Lives Of Colorectal Cancer Patients

Two new drugs improve the outlook for patients with very different cases of colorectal cancer, researchers in the United States and Europe report. One drug buys some precious extra months of life when the cancer has spread throughout the body. The other provides a significant increase in the rate of disease-free survival when the cancer is detected early enough to be removed surgically. The one thing both treatments have in common is that each drug is added to the standard regimen for cancer of the colon and rectum -- a combination of fluorouracil and leucovorin, say separate reports in the June 3 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.