Management of colon cancer: resource-stratified guidelines from the Asian Oncology Summit 2012

Summary Colon cancer is seen with increasing frequency in the Asia-Pacific region, and it is one of the most important causes of cancer mortality worldwide. This article reviews the available evidence for optimum management of colon cancer—in particular, with respect to screening and early detection of colon cancer, laparoscopic surgical treatment, adjuvant treatment of individuals with high-risk stage II and stage III cancer, palliative treatment of patients with metastatic disease, and management of resectable and potentially resectable metastases—and how these strategies can be applied in Asian countries with different levels of health-care resources and economic development, stratified by basic, limited, enhanced, and maximum resource levels.