Risk Factors and Efficacy of Adjuvant Therapy After Surgery of Elderly Colon Cancer Patients 70 Years of Age or Older

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Colon cancer affects largely elderly populations. Elderly patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy is lower than younger patients in colon cancer. We aim to evaluate the survival and prognostic factors in accordance with adjuvant chemotherapy in elderly colon cancer patients undergoing curative resection. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 86 patients 70 years of age or older with stage II, III colon cancer who were underwent surgical resection between 2005 and 2013 at single-center. We examined demographic factors, comorbidities at the time of diagnosis, factors associated with colon cancer, and factors associated with treatment, and analyzed associations survival and these factors divided into adjuvant chemotherapy group (chemotherapy group) and the conservative treatment group (observation group). RESULTS: Among 86 patients 70 years of age or older, 58 patients (67.4%) administered adjuvant chemotherapy and 28 patients (32%) underwent conservative treatment. There are significant differences in respect to the age of 75 in order to select conservative treatment or adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with surgery (p=0.008). There was no significant difference of median overall survival between both groups (chemotherapy group versus observation group 20 months vs. 24 months, p=0.000). Poor ECOG PS score was independent prognostic factor for overall survival (95% confidential interval 0.016-0.205; hazard ratio, 0.58; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Adjuvant chemotherapy did not affect the overall survival in stage II, III elderly colon cancer after surgical resection. There was the tendency to determine whether undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy according to chronologic age. It is thought to be necessary to perform a comprehensive geriatric assessment for decision of adjuvant chemotherapy in elderly patients.