[Experience in treating elderly patients with disseminated stomach and colon cancer]

Colorectal and gastric cancer in usually diagnosed in elderly patients. In metastatic disease systemic chemotherapy has been shown to be of clinical benefit for patients in term of prolongation of survival, symptomatic improvement and quality of life. Compared to its younger counterparts 5-FU-based treatment appears to be equally effective and more toxic according to some reports. Data regarding raltitrexed, oral fluoropyprimidines, Campto or oxaliplatin are limited but suggest no age-specific differences in activity or toxicity. Our experience of using chemotherapy with 5-FU-based combinations, oxaliplatin, Campto, raltitrexed in limited groups of elderly patients confirms this opinion.