American Society of Clinical Oncology recommendations on adjuvant chemotherapy for stage II colon cancer

Al B. Benson*, Deborah Schrag, Mark R. Somerfield, Alfred M. Cohen, Alvaro T. Figueredo, Patrick J. Flynn, Monika K. Krzyzanowska, Jean Maroun, Pamela McAllister, Eric Van Cutsem, Melissa Brouwers, Manya Charette, Daniel G. Haller

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

1236 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: To address whether all medically fit patients with curatively resected stage Il colon cancer should be offered adjuvant chemotherapy as part of routine clinical practice, to identify patients with poor prognosis characteristics, and to describe strategies for oncologists to use to discuss adjuvant chemotherapy in practice. Methods: An American Society of Clinical Oncology Panel, in collaboration with the Cancer Care Ontario Practice Guideline Initiative, reviewed pertinent information from the literature through May 2003. Results: A literature-based meta-analysis found no evidence of a statistically significant survival benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy for stage II patients. Recommendations: The routine use of adjuvant chemotherapy for medically fit patients with stage II colon cancer is not recommended. However, there are populations of patients with stage II disease that could be considered for adjuvant therapy, including patients with inadequately sampled nodes, T4 lesions, perforation, or poorly differentiated histology. Conclusion: Direct evidence from randomized controlled trials does not support the routine use of adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with stage II colon cancer. Patients and oncologists who accept the relative benefit in stage III disease as adequate indirect evidence of benefit for stage II disease are justified in considering the use of adjuvant chemotherapy, particularly for those patients with high-risk stage II disease. The ultimate clinical decision should be based on discussions with the patient about the nature of the evidence supporting treatment, the anticipated morbidity of treatment, the presence of high-risk prognostic features on individual prognosis, and patient preferences. Patients with stage II disease should be encouraged to participate in randomized trials.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3408-3419
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology
Volume22
Issue number16
DOIs
StatePublished - 2004

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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