Cetuximab efficacy and safety in a retrospective cohort of elderly patients with heavily pretreated metastatic colorectal cancer.
BACKGROUND
Few data are available from clinical trials for elderly patients receiving cetuximab.


METHODS
The clinical data of consecutive patients aged > or =70 years given cetuximab for metastatic CRC were retrospectively captured from hospital pharmacy registries in seven centers.


RESULTS
Fifty-six patients received cetuximab+/-with irinotecan. Median age was 76 years (70-84), 86% of patients were pretreated with fluoropyrimidines, irinotecan and oxaliplatin and 69.6% had documented resistance to irinotecan. Objective response rate was 21% (95% CI: 11-32%). The median progression-free survival was 4.4 months (95% CI: 3.0-5.7 months) and the median overall survival was 16.0 months (95% CI: 13.5-18.5 months). Skin rash occurred in 75% of the patients (11% grade 3) and diarrhea in 80% (20% grades 3-4).


CONCLUSIONS
Tolerability of cetuximab was acceptable in elderly patients with pretreated metastatic CRC. Efficacy appeared similar to that observed in younger patients.
Bouchahda
M
M
Hôpital Paul Brousse,Villejuif, Paris, France.
Macarulla
T
T
Spano
J P
JP
Bachet
J B
JB
Lledo
G
G
Andre
T
T
Landi
B
B
Tabernero
J
J
Karaboué
A
A
Domont
J
J
Levi
F
F
Rougier
P
P
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068818:Cetuximab; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D008297:Male; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D000077146:Irinotecan; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D000068818:Cetuximab; D002166:Camptothecin