Retrospective review of cancer patients > or =80 years old treated with chemotherapy at a comprehensive cancer center.
BACKGROUND
The percentage of cancer patients > or =80 years old is expected to increase in the next few years. However data on the use of chemotherapy in these patients are limited.


OBJECTIVE
We conducted a retrospective review to define the profile of patients > or =80 years old who received chemotherapy at our center and assess their survival.


METHODS
Patients > or =80 years treated with chemotherapy between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2004 were included in this analysis.


RESULTS
Of the 4689 patients treated with chemotherapy over the 5-year period, 133 patients (3%) were > or =80 years old. The median age was 83 years. 61% were females and 39% were males. 16% had hematologic tumors and 84% had solid tumors. Gynecological (32%) and aerodigestive cancers (27%) were the most common sites and lung cancer (22%) was the most common cancer. During the first regimen, 512 cycles of chemotherapy were delivered with a median of 3 cycles (range: 1-24 cycles). 49% received single and 51% multidrug regimens. Carboplatin was the most common single agent and carboplatin and paclitaxel was the most common combination among solid tumor patients. 19% of solid tumor patients received radiation with chemotherapy. The 1-year survival among hematologic cancer and solid tumor patients was 65% and 48%, respectively. Stage of disease was the only statistically significant factor predicting survival.


CONCLUSIONS
In cancer patients > or =80 years old selected for chemotherapy, both single and multi-agent therapy appeared to be feasible.
Choi
Minsig
M
Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.
Jiang
Peter Q
PQ
Heilbrun
Lance K
LK
Smith
Daryn W
DW
Gadgeel
Shirish M
SM
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002173:Cancer Care Facilities; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013899:Thoracic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014565:Urogenital Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology
D016190:Carboplatin; D017239:Paclitaxel