Locally advanced vulvar cancer in elderly women: is chemoradiation beneficial?

There is a higher incidence of invasive vulvar cancer in the elderly population. With multiple medical comorbidities, radiation with sensitizing chemotherapy in the elderly can be complicated, yet the risks and benefits of chemoradiation have not been studied in this population. We investigate whether elderly patients are more likely to die of intercurrent disease (ICD) or of treatment complications.

A meta-analysis was performed to compare remission rates, death from ICD or treatment complications, and rates of surgery in elderly and nonelderly patients with vulvar cancer treated with chemoradiation. Data were searched in the Cochrane Review. Eligibility criteria included: woman with advanced primary squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva, women receiving preoperative or primary chemoradiation treatment with curative intent, and prospective studies that reported the necessary data of interest. Data collected included: age (elderly, defined as 65 years and above), stage, treatment, and mortality.

Seventy subjects were identified from 7 studies that met eligibility criteria. Seventy-eight percent (25/32) of patients younger than 65 years were without evidence of disease after treatment versus 66% (25/38) of patients aged 65 years and above (P=0.30). Three percent (1/32) of patients younger than 65 years of age died of ICD or treatment complications versus 11% (4/38) of patients 65 years and above (P=0.37).

We noticed a trend demonstrating death from ICD or treatment complications was higher for elderly patients. Future research should focus on treatment with chemoradiation in the elderly population with regard to survival benefit, toxicity, and death from ICD or treatment complications.