title: Irinotecan in the treatment of elderly patients with advanced colorectal cancer.
abstract: Irinotecan is an active drug in the first and subsequent lines of chemotherapy for patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Frequently, the elderly patients are excluded from receiving irinotecan alone or in combination, and on many occasions these patients receive an initial reduced dose of this drug. This revision has been focused in the role of irinotecan in elderly patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from pharmacokinetic studies, comparative analysis of prospective trials according to age and prospective studies with irinotecan alone or irinotecan-combinations in the elderly have been revised and put into context.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Either pharmacokinetic and clinical data suggest that fit elderly patients may tolerate irinotecan as well as the younger population. Response rate and survival achieved in elderly patients with irinotecan combinations seem to be equivalent to that obtained in younger patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elderly patients with advanced colorectal cancer should be carefully evaluated in order to be classified as fit or not fit through a comprehensive geriatric assessment. For the group of fit elderly patients, irinotecan may be used as in the younger population.
authors: Medical Oncology Department, San Carlos Hospital, c/Martin Lagos s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain. giuseppedilorenzoncol@hotmail.com <giuseppedilorenzoncol@hotmail.com>
authors: Javier
authors: J
authors: Sastre
authors: Javier
authors: J
authors: Puente
authors: Jose A
authors: JA
authors: García-Saenz
authors: Eduardo
authors: E
authors: Díaz-Rubio
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D000077146:Irinotecan; D002166:Camptothecin