TY - JOUR
T1 - Palliative treatment for elderly patients with colon cancer in ten Italian medical oncology units
AU - Pasetto, Lara Maria
AU - Falci, Cristina
AU - Rizzo, Elisa
AU - De Salvo, Gian Luca
AU - Gasparini, Giampietro
AU - D'Andrea, Mario
AU - Bajetta, Emilio
AU - Platania, Marco
AU - Alabiso, Oscar
AU - Miraglia, Stefania
AU - Oniga, Francesco
AU - Biason, Rita
AU - Chetrì, Maria Concetta
AU - Fedele, Palma
AU - Massara, Giovanna
AU - Romaniello, Incoronata
AU - Giordano, Monica
AU - Luchena, Giovanna
AU - Buzzi, Franco
AU - Ricotta, Riccardo
AU - Siena, Salvatore
AU - Monfardini, Silvio
PY - 2008/5
Y1 - 2008/5
N2 - Background: Palliative chemotherapy significantly reduces mortality in patients with stage TV colon cancer, but is less prescribed with rising age. In this paper, we highlight the pattern of palliative treatment and possible effects on survival among elderly patients. Patients and Methods: From January to December 2004, 78 files on the management of stage TV colorectal cancer (CRC) patients over 70 years, collected from 10 Italian Centres, were retrospectively examined. Determinants of receipt of palliative chemotherapy and their relation to toxicity and survival were considered. Results: The proportion of elderly patients receiving first-line palliative chemotherapy was 98.7% and it was evaluated according to age, gender, educational level and comorbidities; patients receiving second-line therapy comprised 47.4%, those receiving third-line therapy 14.1% and those treated with a fourth-line therapy totalled 2.6%. Forty-one percent of patients received best supportive care (BSC) alone. Conclusion: In Italy, a proportion of elderly patients with metastatic chemonaive CRC are usually treated with a tolerability and overall survival similar to those for the younger population. Among progressive patients after second-line therapy, 45.8% usually undergo third line therapy; the remaining 54.2% undergo BSC.
AB - Background: Palliative chemotherapy significantly reduces mortality in patients with stage TV colon cancer, but is less prescribed with rising age. In this paper, we highlight the pattern of palliative treatment and possible effects on survival among elderly patients. Patients and Methods: From January to December 2004, 78 files on the management of stage TV colorectal cancer (CRC) patients over 70 years, collected from 10 Italian Centres, were retrospectively examined. Determinants of receipt of palliative chemotherapy and their relation to toxicity and survival were considered. Results: The proportion of elderly patients receiving first-line palliative chemotherapy was 98.7% and it was evaluated according to age, gender, educational level and comorbidities; patients receiving second-line therapy comprised 47.4%, those receiving third-line therapy 14.1% and those treated with a fourth-line therapy totalled 2.6%. Forty-one percent of patients received best supportive care (BSC) alone. Conclusion: In Italy, a proportion of elderly patients with metastatic chemonaive CRC are usually treated with a tolerability and overall survival similar to those for the younger population. Among progressive patients after second-line therapy, 45.8% usually undergo third line therapy; the remaining 54.2% undergo BSC.
KW - Colon cancer
KW - Elderly
KW - Palliative chemotherapy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=45949094022&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
SN - 0250-7005
VL - 28
SP - 1813
EP - 1820
JO - Anticancer Research
JF - Anticancer Research
IS - 3 B
ER -