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World J Gastroenterol. May 28, 2014; 20(20): 6092-6101
Published online May 28, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i20.6092
Published online May 28, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i20.6092
Should capecitabine replace 5-fluorouracil in the first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer?
Carlos Aguado, Beatriz García-Paredes, Miguel Jhonatan Sotelo, Javier Sastre, Eduardo Díaz-Rubio, Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Author contributions: Aguado C, García-Paredes B, Sotelo MJ, Sastre J and Díaz-Rubio E designed, wrote and approved the final version of the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Eduardo Díaz-Rubio, MD, PhD, Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Martín Lagos, s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain. ediazrubio.hcsc@salud.madrid.org
Telephone: +34-91-3303546 Fax: +34-91-330354
Received: November 21, 2013
Revised: February 1, 2014
Accepted: March 19, 2014
Published online: May 28, 2014
Processing time: 188 Days and 6.6 Hours
Revised: February 1, 2014
Accepted: March 19, 2014
Published online: May 28, 2014
Processing time: 188 Days and 6.6 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: Although there is still controversy about whether capecitabine-based regimes can replace 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in clinical practice in the treatment of first-line metastatic colon cancer, we have reviewed most of different randomized studies and meta-analyses, and we can conclude that capecitabine appear to be an effective, safe, convenient, and economically viable alternative to 5-FU.