Address of Corresponding Author

Oncology 2005;68:432-437 (DOI: 10.1159/000086985)

  Key Words

• Chemoradiotherapy
• Pancreatic carcinoma
• Elderly

  Abstract

Objectives: Chemoradiotherapy, which is one of the standard treatments for locally advanced pancreatic carcinoma, is considered a high-risk procedure in elderly patients. This study investigated the outcome and tolerability of this treatment in elderly patients. Methods: We reviewed our database from November 1993 to March 2003 and retrospectively examined the clinical data of patients with histologically confirmed exocrine pancreatic carcinomas that were nonresectable but confined to the pancreatic region, who were treated with protracted 5-fluorouracil infusion (200 mg/m²/day) and concurrent radiotherapy (50.4 Gy in 28 fractions over 5.5 weeks). We evaluated the outcome of patients 70 years and those <70 years. Results: There were 19 patients 70 and 39 patients <70. On pretreatment evaluation, the elderly patients showed lower serum albumin levels, lower transaminase levels, better ECOG performance status, more frequent body weight loss and less frequent abdominal and/or back pain with the administration of morphine than the younger patients. There were no significant differences in the frequency of severe toxicity. Neither the response rate nor the incidence of treatment discontinuation differed significantly between the two groups. The median survival time was longer in the elderly patients than in the younger patients (11.3 vs. 9.5 months, p = 0.04). Conclusions: With careful patient selection, chemoradiotherapy can be one of the treatment options for locally advanced pancreatic carcinoma in elderly patients.

Copyright © 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Takuji Okusaka, MD
Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Oncology Division
National Cancer Center Hospital, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku
Tokyo, 104-0045 (Japan)
Tel. +81 3 3542 2511, Fax +81 3 3542 3815, E-Mail tokusaka@ncc.go.jp

  Article Information

Received: June 29, 2004
Accepted after revision: December 12, 2004
Published online: July 14, 2005
Number of Print Pages : 6
Number of Figures : 1, Number of Tables : 4, Number of References : 31