title: Treatment and complications in elderly stage III colon cancer patients in the Netherlands.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We evaluated which patient factors were associated with treatment tolerance and outcome in elderly colon cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Population-based data from five regions included in the Netherlands Cancer Registry were used. Patients with resected stage III colon cancer aged ≥75 years diagnosed in 1997-2004 who received adjuvant chemotherapy (N = 216) were included as well as a random sample (N = 341) of patients who only underwent surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most common motives for withholding adjuvant chemotherapy were a combination of high age, co-morbidity and poor performance status (PS, 43%) or refusal by the patient or family (17%). In 57% of patients receiving chemotherapy, adaptations were made in treatment regimens. Patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy developed more complications (52%) than those with surgery alone (41%). For the selection of patients who had survived the first year after surgery, receiving adjuvant chemotherapy resulted in better 5-year overall survival (52% versus 34%), even after adjustment for differences in age, co-morbidity and PS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite high toxicity rates and adjustments in treatment regimens, elderly patients who received chemotherapy seemed to have a better survival. Prospective studies are needed for evaluating which patient characteristics predict the risks and benefits of adjuvant chemotherapy in elderly colon cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, VieCuri Medical Centre, Venlo, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: K W J
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Hoeben
authors.forename: L N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: van Steenbergen
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: van de Wouw
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Rutten
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: van Spronsen
authors.forename: M L G
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Janssen-Heijnen
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000009:adverse effects; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D015897:Comorbidity; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009426:Netherlands; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005472:Fluorouracil