Feasibility of preoperative chemoradiation in rectal cancer patients aged 70 and older

In the present study, we report results of 28 rectal cancer patients, aged 70 years and older, treated with preoperative radiotherapy and 5FU concomitant chemotherapy. Twenty-eight out of 136 patients treated in our Department between 1997 and 2004 aged > or = 70 years, mean 73 (range 70-81); 3 T2, 18 T3, 7 T4; 15 N0, 5N1, 8 N2; Radiotherapy (5040 cGy, 28 fractions) was delivered combined with 5FU - based concomitant chemotherapy. Compliance to chemoradiotherapy was excellent. Major acute toxicity (> or = G3) evaluation showed haematological Grade 3 only in 2 patients. No severe acute Gastrointestinal toxicity was observed. All patients underwent surgery without severe perioperative complications. Complete pathological response pT0 was found in 3 patients (11%). Overall T downstaging occurred in 61% of the cases. Mean follow up was 34 months (range 4- 84). Kaplan Meier Overall Survival and Disease Free Survival at 5 years were 74% (95% CI 54 -95) and 65% (95% CI 38-93), respectively. Only 1 patient showed G3 diarrhea according to CTCAE that interfered with his Quality of Life and required hospitalization. In conclusion, concomitant radiochemotherapy 5FU based is safe in rectal cancer patients aged > or = 70 with a good tumour downstaging (61% of patients) and excellent feasibility. No treatment related death was observed.