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Gastrointestinal stromal tumour in the elderly
Chee-Kian Tham1, Donald Yew-Hee Poon, Hui-Hua Li
1Geriatric Oncology Programme, Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore 169610, Singapore. tham.c.k@nccs.com.sg
Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology
|November 4, 2008
Summary
Elderly patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) show similar outcomes to younger patients. However, comorbidities significantly impact survival in older GIST patients.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Gastroenterology
- Geriatrics
Background:
- Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Age is a significant factor in cancer outcomes, but data on elderly GIST patients is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the clinical outcomes of elderly patients (≥65 years) with younger patients diagnosed with GIST.
- To identify factors influencing survival in elderly GIST patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 49 GIST patients, categorized into two groups: ≥65 years and <65 years.
- Comparison of recurrence-free survival, progression-free survival, and overall survival between the age groups.
- Univariate and multivariate analyses to assess the impact of comorbidities and other factors on survival.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in recurrence-free survival (P=0.598), progression-free survival (P=0.887), or overall survival (P=0.119) between elderly and younger GIST patients.
- Comorbidities were significantly associated with decreased recurrence-free survival (P=0.046) and overall survival in elderly patients (P=0.037).
- Low albumin levels were associated with reduced progression-free survival (P=0.047).
Conclusions:
- Elderly patients with GIST can achieve outcomes comparable to younger individuals.
- Comorbidities represent a critical factor negatively affecting survival in elderly GIST patients, necessitating careful management.