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- Title
Concurrent chemo-radiotherapy in elderly patients: tolerance and compliance in a series of 137 patients.
- Authors
Genesio Pagliuca, M.; Perotti, C.; Apicella, G.; Galla, A.; Guffi, M.; Paolini, M.; Donis, L.; Amisano, V.; Torrente, S.; Manfredda, I.; Krengli, M.
- Abstract
Introduction: Aggressive cancer treatment is a challenge in elderly patients. The present study aims to assess tolerance in terms of acute toxicity and compliance of concurrent chemo-radiotherapy (cCRT) in a series of patients aged ≥70 years. Materials and methods: Clinical records of patients aged ≥70 years who underwent cCRT between January 2005 and December 2013 were reviewed. Concurrent CRT had curative intent in 134 patients (97.8 %) and palliative intent in 3 patients (2.2 %). Chemotherapy (CT) drugs and schedule were selected according to tumor histology. Radiotherapy median dose was 45.0 Gy (range 11-70 Gy) for curative purposes and 54 Gy (range 40-56 Gy) for palliative purposes. Incidence of acute toxicity and compliance to cCRT were analyzed and correlated with age, Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS), and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). Results: Overall, 137 patients, 82 males (60 %) and 55 females (40 %), median age 74 years (range 70-90 years) were analyzed. Concurrent CRT schedule was completed by 132 patients (96.4 %). Thirty-one of these patients (23.5 %) temporarily interrupted treatment. Hematological toxicity with grade ≥1 was observed in 25 patients (18.2 %), gastrointestinal toxicity in 55 (40.1 %), and genitourinary in 13 (9.5 %). Mucositis with grade ≥1 was recorded in 19 patients (13.9 %). No statistical significant correlation between KPS, CCI, and toxicity was found. A correlation trend between mucositis and patient age ( p = 0.05) was observed. Conclusion: Concurrent CRT for elderly was feasible and quite well tolerated. Great attention in prescribing CT dose should be paid to limit acute toxicity.
- Publication
Clinical & Translational Oncology, 2016, Vol 18, Issue 6, p571
- ISSN
1699-048X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s12094-015-1403-y