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Treatment of Stage IV and Recurrent Colon Cancer
Source: Colon Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version, National Cancer Institute.
Source updated: February 12, 2025 · Captured 2026-09-09.
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Stage IV colon cancer denotes distant metastatic disease. Treatment of recurrent colon cancer depends on the sites of recurrent disease demonstrable by physical examination and/or radiographic studies. In addition to standard radiographic procedures, radioimmunoscintography may add clinical information that may affect management.[1] Such approaches have not led to improvements in long-term outcome measures such as survival.
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Treatment options for stage IV colon cancer, recurrent colon cancer, and liver metastases include:
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Surgical resection of locally recurrent cancer.
Surgical resection and anastomosis or bypass of obstructing or bleeding primary lesions in selected metastatic cases.
Resection of liver metastases in selected metastatic patients (5-year cure rate for resection of solitary or combination metastases exceeds 20%) or ablation in selected patients.[2-11]
Resection of isolated pulmonary or ovarian metastases in selected patients.[12]
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Palliative radiation therapy.
Palliative chemotherapy.
Targeted therapy.
Clinical trials comparing various new drugs, chemotherapy regimens, or biological therapies, alone or in combination.
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Preserved source evidence · Not medical advice