Safety and outcome of chemoradiotherapy in elderly patients with rectal cancer: Results from two French tertiary centres

Abstract Background The risks of chemoradiotherapy in elderly patients with rectal cancer have not yet been well-characterised. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the charts of patients with rectal cancer over 70 years old who were treated with chemoradiotherapy in two French university hospitals. Results A total of 125 patients were evaluated. Mean age was 75.1 ± 4.1 years and ranged from 70 to 90 years. Adverse effects ≥ grade 2 were observed in 32% of the patients and adverse effects ≥ grade 3 in 15%. Dose reduction for toxicity was performed in 18% of the patients and chemoradiotherapy discontinuation was necessary in 9%. Postoperative morbidity was 16% with two treatment-related deaths. Two-year survival rate was 84%. No variables had any influence on treatment-related adverse events. Conclusions In selected elderly patients, chemoradiotherapy is well-tolerated, without any significant increase in adverse events, and the results are similar to those recorded in younger patients.