PURPOSE: Past research that has compared cancer treatment tolerance between elderly and nonelderly cancer patients has been contradictory. Some investigators concluded that there is no difference between the groups, while others demonstrated elderly patients experienced less tolerance to treatment. As a result, some physicians discriminate against elderly cancer patients by not entering them onto clinical trials out of a belief that they will not tolerate the therapy. METHODS: An analysis was performed using the Illinois Cancer Center (ICC) data base, which contains treatment information for all patients registered onto phase II trials. A maximum of 672 cases was available for evaluation of 11 treatment-related variables. RESULTS: The results demonstrated no significant differences between elderly and nonelderly patients for the following seven treatment-related variables: performance status (PS), number of dose reductions, number of treatment interruptions, total days of delay, best response, reason off-study, and number of grade 3 or greater toxicities. Minor differences were detected for number of courses and number of dose escalations. CONCLUSION: Based on these results, elderly patients should not be denied access to cancer clinical trials relative to age alone.
PURPOSE: Past research that has compared cancer treatment tolerance between elderly and nonelderly cancerpatients has been contradictory. Some investigators concluded that there is no difference between the groups, while others demonstrated elderly patients experienced less tolerance to treatment. As a result, some physicians discriminate against elderly cancerpatients by not entering them onto clinical trials out of a belief that they will not tolerate the therapy. METHODS: An analysis was performed using the Illinois Cancer Center (ICC) data base, which contains treatment information for all patients registered onto phase II trials. A maximum of 672 cases was available for evaluation of 11 treatment-related variables. RESULTS: The results demonstrated no significant differences between elderly and nonelderly patients for the following seven treatment-related variables: performance status (PS), number of dose reductions, number of treatment interruptions, total days of delay, best response, reason off-study, and number of grade 3 or greater toxicities. Minor differences were detected for number of courses and number of dose escalations. CONCLUSION: Based on these results, elderly patients should not be denied access to cancer clinical trials relative to age alone.
Authors: Arti Hurria; Ilene S Browner; Harvey Jay Cohen; Crystal S Denlinger; Mollie deShazo; Martine Extermann; Apar Kishor P Ganti; Jimmie C Holland; Holly M Holmes; Mohana B Karlekar; Nancy L Keating; June McKoy; Bruno C Medeiros; Ewa Mrozek; Tracey O'Connor; Stephen H Petersdorf; Hope S Rugo; Rebecca A Silliman; William P Tew; Louise C Walter; Alva B Weir; Tanya Wildes Journal: J Natl Compr Canc Netw Date: 2012-02 Impact factor: 11.908
Authors: Matti S Aapro; David C Dale; Michael Blasi; Brenda Sarokhan; Fawzia Ahmed; Richard C Woodman Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2006-06-07 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: Gunjal Garg; Cecilia Yee; Kendra Schwartz; David G Mutch; Robert T Morris; Matthew A Powell Journal: Gynecol Oncol Date: 2014-02-19 Impact factor: 5.482