Gynecological malignancies in elderly patients: Is age 70 a limit to standard-dose chemotherapy? An Italian retrospective toxicity multicentric study

Objective. One hundred and forty-eight consecutive gynecological oncological patients aged ≥70 were administered chemotherapy during the years 1990-2000. Methods. Median age was 73 years (range 70-84). Fifty-five (37.2%) women were over 75 years old. One or more comorbid conditions were present in 118 (79.7%) patients. Standard schedules were administered to 97.3% of cases, with a total number of 1046 cycles of therapy administered (median, 6; range, 1-35, per patient). Results. Of a total of 233 chemotherapy regimens globally administered, G3-G4 hematological toxicity was documented in 38.2% of cases. Only 10 (6.8%) of the 148 patients discontinued treatment because of G3-G4 hematological toxicity. No severe nonhematological toxicity was observed. Two dose reductions and three treatment delays, but no discontinuation of treatment, were required during second-line regimens. Treatment delay >7 days was required in 16.9% of cases. Conclusions. Chronological age did not adversely influence the ability to receive aggressive treatment.