title: Cetuximab efficacy and safety in a retrospective cohort of elderly patients with heavily pretreated metastatic colorectal cancer.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Paul Brousse,Villejuif, Paris, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bouchahda
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Macarulla
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Spano
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Bachet
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lledo
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Andre
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Landi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tabernero
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karaboué
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Domont
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Levi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rougier
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: 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