Treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer in the elderly

Abstract

Metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer related mortality in the United States. The median age of patients at diagnosis is over 70, so as the American population ages, it can be expected that the incidence of CRC will also increase. There is limited prospective data regarding the safety and efficacy of chemotherapy in elderly patients with metastatic CRC. However, the data that are available suggest that elderly patients with a good performance status have a similar likelihood of response to currently available chemotherapy, though perhaps a somewhat higher likelihood of toxicities such as myelosuppression. This paper reviews the available data and recommendations for the treatment of this patient population.