Chemoradiation for patients with esophageal cancer aged 80 and older.
BACKGROUND
The objectives of this study were to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of concurrent chemoradiation in patients with esophageal cancer aged 80 and older.


METHODS
Seven patients with esophageal cancer, aged 80 or more were treated with chemoradiation. Five received a systemic combination of cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil while 2 received daily 5-fluorouracil, concurrent with radiotherapy. The total doses of radiotherapy ranged from 50 to 65 Gy.


RESULTS
Complete response was obtained in 3 patients, and partial response and no change in 2 cases each. Esophageal passage improved in 4 patients. The treatment was well-tolerated. There was no death attributable to any adverse treatment effects. None of the patients experienced grade 3 or worse acute toxicities.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated that advanced age per se is not a sufficient reason to exclude elderly patients from aggressive treatment.
Uno
T
T
Department of Radiation Oncology, Chiba University Gradnate School, Japan. unotakas@ho.chiba-u.ac.jp
Kawakami
H
H
Funami
Y
Y
Isobe
K
K
Yasuda
S
S
Aruga
T
T
Shimada
H
H
Okazumi
S
S
Nabeya
Y
Y
Mastubara
H
H
Ochiai
T
T
Ito
H
H
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects
D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil