Since there is no abstract available we provide the first paragraph.

Colorectal cancer is a major health problem in economically developed countries. With over 1.2 million new cancer cases and 608,700 deaths estimated to have occurred in 2008, colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in males and the second in females, worldwide. The lowest rates are found in Africa and South-Central Asia.
Although adjuvant systemic chemotherapy has been proven effective to improve disease-free survival and overall survival in stages II and III of disease, surgery still remains the backbone of treatment. Standardization of an R0 resection, name complete surgical resection of the primary tumor and appropriate lymphadenectomy has become essential independently of the availability of chemotherapy and radiotherapy for rectal cancer. However, overall survival in stage IV disease remains poor and the optimism that targeted therapy with cetuximab could improve overall survival of patients with stage IV KRAS wild-type type has now being not confirmed by a large-scale, phase 3 randomized controlled trial. Therefore, a re-evaluation of a potential benefit of a surgical resection in stage IV colorectal cancer attracts again an interest by clinicians and patients.

(Citation: Gastric & Breast Cancer 2011; 10(3): 157-158)

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