TY - JOUR
T1 - Colorectal cancer in elderly patients
T2 - From best supportive care to cure
AU - Berretta, Massimiliano
AU - Benedetto, Fabrizio Di
AU - Francia, Raffaele Di
AU - Menzo, Emanuele Lo
AU - Palmeri, Sergio
AU - De Paoli, Paolo
AU - Tirelli, Umberto
PY - 2013
Y1 - 2013
N2 - Colorectal cancer is one of the major causes of cancer mortality in the elderly population (median age at diagnosis of 71 years) in Western Countries. Moreover patients with metastatic disease are often elderly with significant co-morbidities. Unfortunately, elderly patients are often untreated and under-represented in clinical trials, even if most clinical trials that have included this setting of population have shown similar survival rates and toxicities to younger patients. Age itself should not be considered for candidacy to chemotherapy but it should be taken in consideration the great heterogeneity of comorbidities present in the elderly population. Therefore, the best treatment strategy for elderly colorectal cancer patients has not yet been defined. Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment is recommended to evaluate the best strategy treatment and to reduce the adverse events. In fact, while fit elderly patients could receive the same therapeutic treatment as the younger counterpart, a palliative approach should be taken in consideration for frail elderly patients and for those with a short life expectancy.
AB - Colorectal cancer is one of the major causes of cancer mortality in the elderly population (median age at diagnosis of 71 years) in Western Countries. Moreover patients with metastatic disease are often elderly with significant co-morbidities. Unfortunately, elderly patients are often untreated and under-represented in clinical trials, even if most clinical trials that have included this setting of population have shown similar survival rates and toxicities to younger patients. Age itself should not be considered for candidacy to chemotherapy but it should be taken in consideration the great heterogeneity of comorbidities present in the elderly population. Therefore, the best treatment strategy for elderly colorectal cancer patients has not yet been defined. Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment is recommended to evaluate the best strategy treatment and to reduce the adverse events. In fact, while fit elderly patients could receive the same therapeutic treatment as the younger counterpart, a palliative approach should be taken in consideration for frail elderly patients and for those with a short life expectancy.
KW - Cancer
KW - Chemotherapy
KW - Colorectal
KW - Elderly
KW - Treatment
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U2 - 10.2174/18715206113136660350
DO - 10.2174/18715206113136660350
M3 - Article
C2 - 24102277
AN - SCOPUS:84888214777
VL - 13
SP - 1332
EP - 1343
JO - Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry
JF - Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry
SN - 1871-5206
IS - 9
ER -