The effect of age on the tolerability of intraperitoneal chemotherapy, complication rate, and survival in patients with ovarian cancer

Abstract Objective We sought to determine if patient age influenced chemotherapy completion rate, complication rate, or progression free survival (PFS) among patients who received intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy for epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancers. Methods Charts for patients receiving IP chemotherapy between January 2006 and September 2009 were reviewed at three institutions. Primary outcomes included completion rate of planned IP chemotherapy, complication rate, and PFS. Completion rates were categorized as 0–49%, 50–99%, or 100% of planned treatments were delivered. The tolerability of IP versus intravenous (IV) chemotherapy was also compared among patients ≥70years. Results One hundred nine patients receiving IP chemotherapy were identified, 86 were p =0.01), but there was no significant association between age and complication rate or PFS ( p =0.82 and p =0.68, respectively). Optimally debulked patients ≥70years receiving IV chemotherapy completed more cycles than patients ≥70 receiving IP chemotherapy ( p Conclusions Although elderly patients appear to tolerate fewer cycles of IP chemotherapy, they do not have higher objective complication rates or impaired PFS compared to younger patients. Age alone should not limit access to IP chemotherapy.