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The elderly patient with potential treatment toxicity
The West Clinic, Memphis, TN
Although no real information supports the use of chronologic age per se as an indicator of treatment response, susceptibility to toxicity, or suitability for surgical resection in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), treatment studies have not routinely contained a substantial number of patients older than age 70. A review of recent study findings reveals that older patients appear to derive the same benefits from chemotherapy for CRC as do younger ones, without clinically meaningful increases in toxicity. Of course, oncologists must respect the unique healthcare needs posed by older patients when considering combination chemotherapy for this population.
| Commun Oncol 2007;4(suppl 2):16–20 | full text |  121 kb |