Adjuvant chemotherapy in elderly patients with colorectal cancer. A retrospective analysis of the implementation of tumor board recommendations in a single institution

Abstract 

Background

A number of studies have shown that elderly cancer patients were denied optimal anticancer treatment because of age. Colorectal cancer is among the most frequent cancers in Western countries, and adjuvant chemotherapy has proven efficacy and tolerance in this condition. This study was undertaken to explore the current approaches to adjuvant chemotherapy in elderly cancer patients in a single institution.

Patients and methods

We retrospectively analyzed all patients’ files that were discussed in the gastro-intestinal tumor board of the Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg during 3 years (2004–2006). The recorded variables included sex, age, tumor stage, cancer location colon vs rectum, number of comorbidities, occurrence of an oncogeriatric assessment, type and tolerance of chemotherapy. We investigated the reason to not administer adjuvant therapy in patients whom should have received this treatment if guidelines had to be applied.

Results

A total of 193 consecutive patients’ files were extracted from colorectal cancer patients that had been discussed in the gastro-intestinal tumor board. Among these, we isolated patients over 70 years old who were proposed with either adjuvant chemotherapy (group A, n=65) or follow up (group B, n=128). The median age in group A was 75.3 years old. Tumor board recommendations were in accordance with guidelines in 91% of cases. Chemotherapy was delivered in 44 pts (76%) and completed in 42 (95%). The median age in group B was 78.6 years old, and in this group tumor board proposal met the guidelines in 83% of cases. In the logistic regression model, disease stage was the major variable leading to adjuvant treatment recommendation, age and comorbidities being of lesser importance.

Conclusions

In our series, elderly colorectal cancer patients are not undertreated. Efforts should be maintained to educate physicians with regard to feasibility of adjuvant chemotherapy in elderly patients.

Keywords: Colorectal cancer, Elderly, Adjuvant chemotherapy