Korean J Med.  2014 Nov;87(5):530-536. 10.3904/kjm.2014.87.5.530.

Chemotherapy in Elderly Patients with Colorectal Cancer

• Han HS

• KMID: 2269192
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjm.2014.87.5.530

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) affects largely elderly populations. However, older patients with CRC are generally excluded from randomized clinical trials, and the healthy subjects who are recruited are not representative of the general elderly patient population. Nevertheless, recent data from clinical trials specifically targeting elderly patients and related subgroup analyses indicate that well-selected elderly patients can have a similar response to that of younger patients. Chronological age should not determine the candidacy for adjuvant or palliative chemotherapy in elderly patients with CRC. The appropriate management of healthy elderly patients would mean that they could receive aggressive chemotherapy in a similar regimen to that of younger patients, whereas the care of frail elderly patients and those with a short life expectancy should focus on palliation. The use of a comprehensive geriatric assessment could allow the use of safe and beneficial chemotherapy regimens in elderly patients with CRC.

Keyword

Chemotherapy; Colorectal cancer; Elderly

MeSH Terms

Aged*
Colorectal Neoplasms*
Drug Therapy*
Frail Elderly
Geriatric Assessment
Humans
Life Expectancy