{blacktriangledown}Raltitrexed in colorectal cancer

doi:10.1136/dtb.1996.341078

Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin 1996;34:78-80; doi:10.1136/dtb.1996.341078

${blacktriangledown}$ Raltitrexed in colorectal cancer

Relevant BNF section: 8.1.3

Each year about 26,000 people in Britain develop colorectalcancer. Roughly half of these patients die from locally advancedor metastatic disease. Systemic chemotherapy, usually with regimensincluding fluorouracil, can prolong survival in patients withadvanced or recurrent disease and may improve their qualityof life. ${blacktriangledown}$ Raltitrexed (Tomudex - Zeneca), a new class of cytotoxicdrug introduced last year, is claimed to simplify treatmentand be as effective as one established fluorouracil regimenwhile causing less toxicity. We review raltitrexed and assessits place in the treatment of patients in whom colorectal canceris advanced.