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Review
. 2020 Jun 15;12(6):604-618.
doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v12.i6.604.

Real-world evidence on adjuvant chemotherapy in older adults with stage II/III colon cancer

Atul Batra  1 , Rodrigo Rigo  1 , Dropen Sheka  1 , Winson Y Cheung  2
Affiliations
Review

Real-world evidence on adjuvant chemotherapy in older adults with stage II/III colon cancer

Atul Batra et al. World J Gastrointest Oncol. .

Abstract

Colon cancer represents one of the most common cancers diagnosed in older adults worldwide. The standard of care in resected stage II and stage III colon cancer continues to evolve. While there is unequivocal evidence to suggest both disease free and overall survival benefits with the use of combination chemotherapy in patients with stage III colon cancer, data regarding its use in patients with stage II colon cancer are less clear. Further, although colon cancer is a disease that affects older adults, there is considerable debate on the value of adjuvant chemotherapy in the aging population. In particular, many older patients are undertreated when compared to their younger counterparts. In this review, we will describe the clinical trials that contributed to the current adjuvant chemotherapy approach in colon cancer, discuss representation of older adults in trials and the specific challenges associated with the management of this sub-population, and highlight the role of comprehensive geriatric assessments. We will also review how real-world evidence complements the data gaps from clinical trials of early stage colon cancer.

Keywords: Adjuvant chemotherapy; Colon cancer; Older adults; Real-world evidence.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Timeline of evolution of adjuvant chemotherapy in colon cancer.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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