[Cytostatic polychemotherapy in the aged]

Adherence to the dose or the need for dose reduction and the duration of treatment intervals were determined retrospectively for 1446 chemotherapy courses in 291 patients with malignant lymphoma and breast cancer. In patients over 60 years of age treated with the COP and COPP regimes there was a significantly higher frequency of deviation from the standard regime than in younger patients; a similar situation was seen in patients with breast cancer. The cause in the elderly patients was presumably due to the higher incidence of non-oncological diseases. In a group treated using the CHOP-scheme there was no difference in comparison with the reference group. In this group patients with severe pre-existent diseases were excluded before treatment. The results indicate that age itself is not a major risk factor for a combination chemotherapy. Pre-existent diseases play a substantial role in the toxicity of cytostatics.