Should radiotherapy be avoided or delivered differently in elderly patients with rectal cancer?

Abstract Purpose is to give an overview of treatment possibilities of rectal cancer over time, but also of the real management of rectal cancer especially in relation to age. From literature search representative randomised studies on patients with resectable rectal cancer, comparing only surgery, p...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:European journal of cancer (1990) 2007-10, Vol.43 (15), p.2301-2306
Main Authors: Martijn, H, Vulto, J.C.M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use
Combined Modality Therapy
Elderly patients
Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine
Humans
Intraoperative Care - methods
Neoplasm Recurrence, Local - prevention & control
Population based
Radiotherapy
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
Rectal cancer
Rectal Neoplasms - drug therapy
Rectal Neoplasms - radiotherapy
Rectal Neoplasms - surgery
Risk Factors
Treatment Outcome
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Abstract Purpose is to give an overview of treatment possibilities of rectal cancer over time, but also of the real management of rectal cancer especially in relation to age. From literature search representative randomised studies on patients with resectable rectal cancer, comparing only surgery, post- and preoperative radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy, are reviewed. We also reviewed the literature regarding radiotherapy for rectal cancer described in population-based studies. The overview of the trials showed that preoperative radiotherapy improves local control in relation to no or postoperative radiotherapy. Adding chemotherapy did not significantly improve survival. No relations were seen between age and complications. All population-based studies showed that increasing age is associated with less (neo)adjuvant treatment. To avoid local recurrence, the best possible treatment, being preoperative RT, should be given to all patients with resectable rectal cancer, irrespective of age.
ISSN:0959-8049
1879-0852
DOI:10.1016/j.ejca.2007.06.014