title: [Chemotherapy for gastrointestinal cancer in elderly patients].
abstract: Since elderly people have decreased renal function along with increased risks for complications of cardiac disorders such as hypertension and decreased physical strength, compared to in younger people, drug therapy for them is associated more with concern about drug-related toxicity. Therefore, dose reduction or discontinuation of drug administration is sometimes considered during earlier stages of therapy. On the other hand, there are some reports suggesting that as long as proper organ function is maintained, the elderly can be treated in the same way as younger people. However, given limited information and depending on the therapeutic goal of each patient, it should be carefully considered whether the same medicinal strategy used for younger patients is appropriate for treating elderly patients or not.
authors: Cancer Chemotherapy Center, Osaka Medical College Hospital, Osaka, Japan.
authors: Hitoshi
authors: H
authors: Nishitani
authors: Hiroya
authors: H
authors: Takiuchi
authors: Ken
authors: K
authors: Asaishi
authors: Shin
authors: S
authors: Kuwakado
authors: Takayuki
authors: T
authors: Kii
authors: Motoki
authors: M
authors: Yoshida
authors: Masahiro
authors: M
authors: Goto
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents