Background: There are 3 450 new cases of colorectal cancer in Norway annually. In half of the patients, metastatic disease will evolve with time. Palliative chemo- or radiotherapy can prolong disease- and symptom control when cure is not feasible.
Material and methods: This paper is based on publications retrieved from a PubMed search, the authors' knowledge of the field and on recent conference abstracts.
Results and interpretation: Patients with metastatic colorectal cancer should initially be considered for surgery, and judged if secondary surgery is a possibility. Palliative chemotherapy is used to increase survival and maintain quality of life. 5-FU/calsiumfolinat combined with oxaliplatin or irinotecan is usually given as first line treatment for patients below 75 years--and most of them respond. Median survival is close to two years. Bevacizumab combined with an irinotecan regimen is an alternative first line treatment. Elderly patients are judged on an individual basis. Half of the patients will receive second line therapy with the alternative chemotherapy schedule. Cetuximab combined with irinotecan is a possible third line treatment. Palliative radiotherapy is most often used for inoperable rectal cancer, local recurrences, and bone or brain metastases.