title: Surgical treatment of advanced colorectal cancer in the elderly.
abstract: The aim of the study was to compare the short and long-term outcomes of older and younger colorectal cancer patients with advanced disease resected with a curative intent. Six hundred and ninety-two patients were analysed. Four hundred and seventy-nine patients were younger than 70 years (Group 1), and 213 were 70 years of age or above (Group 2). The overall perioperative mortality rate in the younger group was 0.8% (n = 7), as against 1.4% (n = 3) in the elderly group (p = NS). The morbidity rates were 35% and 42%, respectively (p = NS). At univariate analysis, the elderly patients had a worse overall survival compared to the younger group, when only patients undergoing postoperative chemo-radiotherapy were considered (54% vs 67% overall survival at 5 years; p = 0.03). Using logistic regression analysis, tumour stage (p < 0.0001) and radicality of surgery (p < 0.0001) correlated significantly with overall survival rates in the elderly. Colorectal surgery for malignancy can be performed safely in the elderly with acceptable morbidity and mortality rates and long-term survival.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, European Institute of Oncology, University of Milan.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chiappa
authors.forename: Andrew P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Zbar
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bertani
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Biffi
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Luca
authors.forename: Ugo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Pace
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Viale
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pruneri
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Orecchia
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lazzari
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Biella
authors.forename: Carmine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grassi
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zampino
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fazio
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Della Vigna
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Andreoni
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Andreoni
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D005472:Fluorouracil