title: Results of age-dependent anal canal cancer treatment: a single centre retrospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Information concerning management of anal canal cancer among the elderly is scarce and much less abundant than for younger subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analysed 115 patients treated for anal epidermoid cancer between 2000 and 2010. The population was divided according to age (<70 years and ≥70 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 115 patients, 81 (70.4%) were <70 years old and 34 were ≥70 years (29.6%). Tumour characteristics were identical between the two groups and median follow-up was 62 months. Elderly patients had a less favourable performance status (p=0.001) and fewer had received radiochemotherapy (61.8% vs 82.5%, p=0.004). Treatment-related grade 3 and 4 hematologic toxicity was observed more often among elderly subjects. The results at 5 years were less favourable for overall, disease-specific, and disease-free survival (respectively p=0.002, p=0.001, and p=0.001). For patients treated with a curative intent, at 5 years there was no difference between the two groups in terms of overall survival (p=0.2). However, there was a statistically significant difference in favour of the younger group for disease-free survival and metastasis-free survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  If radiochemotherapy can be delivered to elderly subjects with a good general status, the effects appear less favourable than in younger patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, Centre Antoine-Lacassagne, Nice, France.
authors.forename: Audrey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Claren
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, Centre Antoine-Lacassagne, Nice, France.
authors.forename: Jerôme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Doyen
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Centre Antoine-Lacassagne, Nice, France.
authors.forename: Alexander T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Falk
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, Centre Antoine-Lacassagne, Nice, France.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Benezery
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Centre Antoine-Lacassagne, Nice, France.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Follana
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Centre Antoine-Lacassagne, Nice, France.
authors.forename: Anne-Claire
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Frin
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, Centre Antoine-Lacassagne, Nice, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Michel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hannoun-Lévi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Centre Antoine-Lacassagne, Nice, France.
authors.forename: Gérard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cavaglione
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Centre Antoine-Lacassagne, Nice, France.
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mari
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, Centre Antoine-Lacassagne, Nice, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Gérard
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Centre Antoine-Lacassagne, Nice, France. Electronic address: eric.francois@nice.unicancer.fr.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: François
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001005:Anus Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D001918:Brachytherapy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D047368:Tumor Burden
chemical_list: D016685:Mitomycin; D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil
keywords: Anal canal cancer; Elderly; Radiochemotherapy; Radiotherapy