title: Clinicopathological characteristics and long-term outcomes of colorectal cancer in elderly Chinese patients undergoing potentially curative surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the clinicopathological characteristics and outcomes of Chinese colorectal cancer (CRC) patients aged 75 years and older undergoing potentially curative surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 2,482 CRC patients at TNM stage I-III undergoing surgical treatment between 1995 and 2005 were evaluated, and patients were divided into a younger (<75 years old) and an elderly (≥75 years) group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 2,482 CRC patients in this study, of which 2,194 (88.4 %) patients were in the younger group (mean age 57 years) and 288 (11.6 %) were in the elderly group (mean age 79 years). Significant differences were observed between the two groups with regard to the American Society of Anesthesiologists' score, tumor location, co-morbidities, emergency procedures, use of chemotherapy, proportion admitted to the ICU, length of ICU stay, causes of death, T/N stage and postoperative recurrence. The postoperative mortality increased from 4.8 % in the younger group to 8.3 % in the older group (p = 0.011). Although significant differences were found in the overall 5-year survival (73 vs. 56 %, p < 0.0001) and disease-free 5-year survival (68 vs. 54 %, p < 0.0001) between the two groups, the cancer-specific 5-year survival was similar (88 vs. 85 %, p = 0.089) in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although elderly CRC patients have unique clinicopathological features, a higher postoperative mortality and a worse overall and disease-free survival compared with younger patients, the cancer-specific survival at five years is similar between elderly and younger patients. Elderly patients benefit from radical surgery and have a good postoperative oncological outcome, irrespective of their age.
authors: Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (Guangdong Gastrointestinal and Anal Hospital), 26 Yuancun Erheng Road, Guangzhou, 510655, People's Republic of China.
authors: Zuli
authors: Z
authors: Yang
authors: Hao
authors: H
authors: Chen
authors: Yi
authors: Y
authors: Liao
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Xiang
authors: Liang
authors: L
authors: Kang
authors: Lei
authors: L
authors: Wang
authors: Ji
authors: J
authors: Cui
authors: Guanfu
authors: G
authors: Cai
authors: Junsheng
authors: J
authors: Peng
authors: Ping
authors: P
authors: Lan
authors: Jianping
authors: J
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult