Reduced risk of distant recurrence after adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with stage III colon cancer aged 75 years or older

Results: Adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) was correlated with a reduced risk of distant recurrence in both the total study population [hazard ratio (HR) CT versus nCT 0.55, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.42–0.70] and in the propensity score matched sample (HR CT versus nCT 0.46, 95% CI 0.33–0.63). In separate analyses for patients aged <75 and ≥75 years, the effect of adjuvant chemotherapy on the risk of distant recurrence remained comparable for both age groups (HR CT versus nCT 0.50, 95% CI 0.37–0.68 and 0.57, 95% CI 0.36–0.90, respectively). Conclusion: Distant recurrence risks at higher age definitely warrant consideration of adjuvant chemotherapy for elderly stage III colon cancer patients. This decision should be based on a multidisciplinary and functional assessment of the patient, not on age.