Preoperative radiotherapy in elderly patients with rectal cancer

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Date publication

avril 2007

Auteurs

Membres identifiés du Cancéropôle Est :
Dr PEIGNAUX Karine


Tous les auteurs :
Lorchel F, Peignaux K, Crehange G, Bosset M, Puyraveau M, Mercier M, Bosset JF, Maingon P

Résumé

Purpose - We performed a retrospective analysis in order to evaluate the compliance with preoperative radiotherapy in patients aged >= 70 with locally advanced resectable rectal cancer, and to evaluate the influence of comorbidities on treatment tolerance and oncological results. Methods - From March 1984 to December 2000, 95 patients with T3-T4 N0 M0 rectal cancer received a preoperative radiotherapy in 2 radiotherapy departments. Nineteen patients received concomitant chemotherapy. Results - All patients completed the radiation schedule. Six patients suffered grade 3 acute WHO toxicity. Surgical resection was performed in 87 patients. There were 3 post-operative deaths. Analysis of peri-operative complications showed thromboembolism (4.9%), ileus (9.8%) and diarrhoea (6.1%). After a median followup of 29 months, the 3- and 5-year overall survival rates were 65% and 49% respectively. In univariate analysis, a tumour located in the mid part of the rectum, a radiation dose less than 40 Gy, the absence of chemotherapy were significantly associated with a poor prognosis. There was a trend to a better survival for patients with a Charlson score of 0 (P=0.0584). In multivariate analysis, only initial WHO performance status was significant. Conclusions - Compliance with preoperative radiotherapy is good in elderly patients. Toxicity rates are similar to those described in randomised trials in which only younger patients were included. Initial WHO performance status

Référence

Gastroenterol Clin Biol. 2007 Apr;31(4):436-41.