title: Analysis of influence of age on acute and chronic radiotherapy toxicity in treatment of prostate cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide a single-institution analysis of the influence of age on acute and late genitourinary (GU) and gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity after radiotherapy (RT) administered in different prostate cancer scenarios. Improved understanding of the influence of age on toxicity outcome after RT for prostate cancer can assist in treatment decision-making.
  
  
  METHODS
  The records of 527 consecutive nonmetastatic patients receiving RT at a single institution and for whom demographic, disease, treatment, and follow-up information were available were reviewed. The cohort was divided into four major categories as a function of age: younger than 60 years, 60 to 69 years, 70 to 74 years, and 75 years and older. The toxicity rates in each of these categories were tabulated according to the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group toxicity scales and compared using the chi-square test. Additionally, an ordered logit regression analysis was performed for each of these categories using all major patient, disease, and treatment factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The toxicity rates were not significantly different as a function of age for either acute GU (P = 0.10) or acute GI (P = 0.19) toxicity or for either late GU (P = 0.22) or late GI (P = 0.09) toxicity. The ordered logit regression analysis showed that age was not a factor that correlated with toxicity in any setting (acute GU, P = 0.44; acute GI, P = 0.55; late GU, P = 0.65; late GI, P = 0.14).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patient age did not independently influence GI or GU toxicity after RT for nonmetastatic prostate cancer and should not be used as an independent factor in treatment decision-making or in patient counseling with regard to GI and GU toxicity outcomes after RT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation and Cellular Oncology, University of Chicago Hospitals, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA. jani@rover.uchicago.edu
authors.forename: Ashesh B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Jani
authors.forename: Simul D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Parikh
authors.forename: Srinivasan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vijayakumar
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gratzle
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D014566:Urogenital System / Q000528:radiation effects*