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HEALTH PROFESSIONAL · SOURCE READING

Second-line chemotherapy

Source: Rectal Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version, National Cancer Institute.

Source updated: February 12, 2025 · Captured 2026-09-09.

Selected source text with whitespace normalised. This Triangle page is not an NCI PDQ summary. Independent clinical review is pending.

Context: Treatment of Stage IV and Recurrent Rectal Cancer / Treatment Options for Stage IV and Recurrent Rectal Cancer

Second-line chemotherapy with irinotecan in patients treated with 5-FU/LV as first-line therapy demonstrated improved OS when compared with either infusional 5-FU or supportive care.[63-66]

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Similarly, a phase III trial randomly assigned patients who progressed on irinotecan and 5-FU/LV to bolus and infusional 5-FU/LV, single-agent oxaliplatin, or FOLFOX4. The median TTP for FOLFOX4 versus 5-FU/LV was 4.6 months versus 2.7 months (stratified log-rank test, 2-sided P < .001).[67][Level of evidence B1]

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Preserved source evidence · Independent clinical review pending · Not medical advice