Oxaliplatin- or irinotecan-based chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer in the elderly

The efficacy of irinotecan supplementation for colorectal cancer: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies

BACKGROUND

The efficacy of irinotecan as the adjunctive therapy to fluorouracil and leucovorin remains controversial in patients with colorectal cancer. We conduct this meta-analysis to explore the efficacy of irinotecan supplementation for colorectal cancer.

METHODS

We have searched PubMed, EMBASE, Web of science, EBSCO, and Cochrane library databases through March 19, 2020, and included randomized controlled trials assessing the efficacy of irinotecan plus fluorouracil and leucovorin for colorectal cancer.

RESULTS

Five randomized controlled trials were included in the meta-analysis. Compared with fluorouracil and leucovorin for colorectal cancer, irinotecan supplementation could significantly improve progression-free survival rate (hazard ratio = 0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.58-0.90; P = .003), median progression-free survival (standard mean difference = -0.30; 95% CI = -0.44 to -0.15; P < .0001), overall survival rate (hazard ratio = 0.77; 95% CI = 0.66-0.90; P = .001), and objective response (risk ratio [RR] = 0.57; 95% CI = 0.49-0.66; P < .00001) and decrease progressive disease (RR = 2.10; 95% CI = 1.40-3.14; P = .0003), but revealed no obvious effect on complete response (RR = 0.88; 95% CI = 0.33-2.29; P = .79). The incidence of grade ≥3 adverse events in irinotecan supplementation group was increased compared to control group (RR = 0.67; 95% CI = 0.57-0.79; P < .00001).

CONCLUSIONS

Irinotecan as the adjunctive therapy to fluorouracil and leucovorin can increase the survival and objective response of patients with colorectal cancer, but the incidence of grade ≥3 adverse events is found to be increased after irinotecan supplementation.

Inoperable de novo metastatic colorectal cancer with primary tumour in situ: Evaluating discordant responses to upfront systemic therapy of the primary tumours and metastatic sites and complications arising from primary tumours (experiences from an Irish Cancer Centre)

Systemic therapy is the mainstay of treatment for de novo metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Heterogeneity between primary tumours and metastases may lead to discordant responses to systemic therapy at these sites. The aim of the present study was to examine these discrepancies and to evaluate the rates of complications arising from the primary tumour and the strategies employed to manage these complications. Electronic medical records were screened for patients eligible for data analysis between January 1st, 2014 and December 31st, 2019. All patients diagnosed with de novo mCRC with primary tumour in situ at the time of initial systemic therapy were included in data analysis. Responses in primary tumour and metastatic sites (according to the Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumours v1.1), discrepancies in these responses and rates of complications arising from primary tumours were assessed along with patient, pathological or molecular factors that may be associated with these discrepant responses or primary tumour complications. A total of 50 patients were identified (median age, 62 years). Right-colon, left-colon and rectal primary tumours comprised 34, 44 and 22% of CRC cases, respectively. All patients received 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy (either alone or in combination with oxaliplatin or irinotecan). Disease response (DR), stable disease (SD) and progressive disease (PD) were observed as the first response to systemic therapy in 24, 62 and 12% of primary tumours and in 36, 18 and 44% of metastatic sites, respectively. Only 36% of patients demonstrated concordant responses between the primary tumours and metastases, while the remaining 62% demonstrated discordant responses between the primary tumour and distant metastases (22% had DR with SD; 36% had DR or SD with PD; and 4% had PD with SD in the primary tumour and metastases, respectively). Restaging images were not available for 2% of the patients. Approximately 30% of patients developed complications from primary tumours, including bowel obstruction (6.12%), perforation (6%), rectal pain (6%) and rectal bleeding (10%). Approximately 10% of patients underwent palliative stoma creation. Additionally, 12% required palliative radiotherapy to the primary tumour (due to localized complications arising from the tumour). Discordant responses to systemic therapy between primary tumours and metastases occurred in 60% of patients with de novo mCRC (with primary tumour in situ at the time of first systemic therapy). The observations of the present study have potential implications for molecular tissue analysis to help guide systemic therapy. Tissue from metastatic sites may be preferable to confirm biomarker status in mCRC based on this study.

Simulating Progression-Free and Overall Survival for First-Line Doublet Chemotherapy With or Without Bevacizumab in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients Based on Real-World Registry Data

BACKGROUND

Simulation models utilizing real-world data have potential to optimize treatment sequencing strategies for specific patient subpopulations, including when conducting clinical trials is not feasible. We aimed to develop a simulation model to estimate progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival for first-line doublet chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab for specific subgroups of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients based on registry data.

METHODS

Data from 867 patients were used to develop two survival models and one logistic regression model that populated a discrete event simulation (DES). Discrimination and calibration were used for internal validation of these models separately and predicted and observed medians and Kaplan-Meier plots were compared for the integrated DES. Bootstrapping was performed to correct for optimism in the internal validation and to generate correlated sets of model parameters for use in a probabilistic analysis to reflect parameter uncertainty.

RESULTS

The survival models showed good calibration based on the regression slopes and modified Hosmer-Lemeshow statistics at 1 and 2 years, but not for short-term predictions at 0.5 years. Modified C-statistics indicated acceptable discrimination. The simulation estimated that median first-line PFS (95% confidence interval) of 219 (25%) patients could be improved from 175 days (156-199) to 269 days (246-294) if treatment would be targeted based on the highest expected PFS.

CONCLUSIONS

Extensive internal validation showed that DES accurately estimated the outcomes of treatment combination strategies for specific subpopulations, with outcomes suggesting treatment could be optimized. Although results based on real-world data are informative, they cannot replace randomized trials.

Treatment guidelines of metastatic colorectal cancer in older patients from the French Society of Geriatric Oncology (SoFOG)

BACKGROUND

Several guidelines dedicated to metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) are available. Since 2013 no recent guidelines are specifically dedicated to older patients and based on a systematic review.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A multidisciplinary Task Force with digestive oncologists, geriatricians and methodologists from the SoFOG was formed in 2016 to update recommendations on medical treatment of mCRC based on a systematic review of publications from 2000 to 2018. Search strategy has followed a standardized protocol from the formulation of clinical questions and definition of a search algorithm to the selection of complete articles for recommendations.

RESULTS

The four selected key questions were: For which older patients with mCRC can we considered: (1) Any chemotherapy, (2) Mono or poly-chemotherapy, (3) Anti-angiogenic therapy, (4) Other targeted therapy. Main recommendations for older patients are: (1) Omission of chemotherapy should be discussed with a geriatrician for patients with severe comorbidities, advanced dementia, uncontrolled psychiatric disorder or severe loss of autonomy. (2) If tumor response is not the main aim, a mono-chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil combined with bevacizumab is recommended as first-line. (3) For patients with symptoms related to metastases or with a planned metastasis ablation, a doublet chemotherapy combined with bevacizumab or anti-EGFR antibody in the context of a RAS wild type tumor is recommended as first-line. Preliminary data suggest that regorafenib may be used, in its registered indication, in patients under 80 with a performance status of 0 and no autonomy alterations and that trifluridine-tipiracil may be used with a tight supervising of hematological function.

Correlation between mouse age and human age in anti-tumor research: Significance and method establishment

Age is closely related with the occurrence and development of tumors, and with treatment outcomes. To improve the accuracy and rigor of preclinical studies, and to enhance consistency between the preclinical research and the clinical reality, the age of experimental animals used in preclinical studies is important. The mouse genome is 99% identical to the human genome, and mice have similar patterns with respect to organs and systemic physiology. Thus, mice have been the most widely used animals in anti-tumor research. However, most mice used in such studies are 6 to 8 weeks old, ignoring the fact that different tumors may often occur in various periods, with a particular tendency to occur in later stages of life. The great difference in age limits the success rate of clinical transformation. Therefore, it is very important to choose mice of suitable age for preclinical studies and to correlate ages of human and mice. Only a few related studies have been reported and there is a lack of consistency in the findings. This review points out that age is one of the important factors in anti-tumor research, and establishes a new method for calculating the age correlation between humans and mice. The equations obtained from the method can help researchers conveniently determine suitable aged mouse for their research, which will improve the rigor of their experimental results. Furthermore, this method can be used beyond anti-tumor research, in studies on other diseases that use mouse as an animal model.

Observed benefit and safety of aflibercept in elderly patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: An age-based analysis from the randomized placebo-controlled phase III VELOUR trial

OBJECTIVES

Aflibercept (ziv-aflibercept) significantly improves progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) when added to 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin and irinotecan (FOLFIRI), compared with FOLFIRI alone, in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer previously treated with oxaliplatin-based therapy. This subset analysis of the VELOUR study investigates aflibercept plus FOLFIRI versus placebo plus FOLFIRI according to age.

METHODS

Efficacy and safety were analyzed by treatment arm and age (≥ or <65years).

RESULTS

Overall, 443 patients were ≥65years old (205 in aflibercept arm; 238 in placebo arm) and 783 were <65years old (407 in aflibercept arm; 376 in placebo arm). Median OS was 12.6 versus 11.3months (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.85; 95.34% CI 0.68-1.07) in patients ≥65years old and 14.5 versus 12.5months (HR: 0.80; 95.34% CI 0.67-0.95) in those patients <65years old, for patients receiving FOLFIRI plus aflibercept or placebo, respectively. There was no interaction between treatment and age. Treatment-emergent adverse events (AEs) were comparable for patients <65years and ≥65years old. The incidence of grade 3/4 AEs was higher for patients ≥65years old than for those <65years old in both the aflibercept (89.3% versus 80.5%) and placebo (67.4% versus 59.4%) arms. Interaction tests for grade 3/4 antiangiogenic agent-related AEs suggested no heterogeneity between the older and younger patient populations (p>0.1).

CONCLUSION

A limited but consistent benefit on both OS and PFS was associated with the addition of aflibercept to FOLFIRI compared with placebo in patients <65 and ≥65years old, with a marked but manageable increase in the toxicity profile in older patients.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

clinicaltrials.govNCT00561470.

Folfirinox in elderly patients with pancreatic or colorectal cancer-tolerance and efficacy

AIM

To study the tolerance and the efficiency of FOLFIRINOX in elderly patients diagnosed with colorectal or pancreatic cancer.

METHODS

This retrospective study included elderly patients aged over 70 years of age treated at Georges-Francois Leclerc Center by FOLFIRINOX for histological proved colorectal or pancreatic cancer between January 2009 and January 2015. Chemotheapy regimen consisted of oxaliplatin (85 mg/m² in over 120 min) followed by leucovorin (400 mg/m² in over 120 min), with the addition, after 30 min of irinotecan (180 mg/m² in over 90 min) then 5 fluorouracil (5FU) (400 mg/m² administred intravenous bolus), followed by 5FU (2400 mg/m² intraveinous infusion over 46 h) repeated every 2 wk. Geriatric parameters were recorded at the beginning. Toxicities were evaluated with the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events 4.03. Tumor response was evaluated by CT scan. Treatment continued until disease progression, unacceptable toxicities or patient refusal.

RESULTS

Fifty-two patients aged from 70 to 87 years were treated by FOLFIRINOX, 34 had colorectal cancer and 18 had pancreatic cancer. Most of them were in good general condition, 82.7% had a 0-1 performance status and 61.5% had a Charlson Comorbidity Index < 10. The most frequent severe toxicities were neutropenia (17 patients, n = 32.7%) and diarrhea (35 patients n = 67.3%); 10 of the case of neutropenia and 5 of diarrhea registered a grade 4 toxicity. Thirty-nine patients (75%) initially received an adapted dose of chemotherapy. The dosage was adjusted for 26% of patients during the course of treatment. Tumor response evaluated by RECIST criteria showed a controlled disease for 25 patients (48.1%), a stable disease for 13 and a partial response for 12 patients. Time under treatment was higher for colorectal cancer with a median time of 2.44 mo (95%CI: 1.61-3.25). Overall survival was 43.88 mo for colorectal cancer and 12.51 mo for pancreatic cancer. In univariate or multivariate analysis, none of geriatric parameters were linked to overall survival. Only the type of tumor (pancreatic/colorectal) was linked in both analysis.

CONCLUSION

For people over 70 years old, FOLFIRINOX regimen seems to induce manageable toxicities but similar, even higher, median survival rates compared to younger people.

Population-Based Patterns and Factors Associated With Underuse of Palliative Systemic Therapy in Elderly Patients With Metastatic Colon Cancer

BACKGROUND

We compared the patterns and factors associated with chemotherapy and bevacizumab use in elderly versus young patients with metastatic colon cancer (mCC) and determined the effect of systemic therapy on overall survival (OS) according to age.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients diagnosed with mCC from 2009 to 2010 in British Columbia, Canada were reviewed and categorized as elderly patients (age ≥ 70 years) and young patients (age < 70 years). Cox regression models adjusted for age and confounders were used to determine the effect of systemic therapy on OS.

RESULTS

We identified 1013 patients with a median age of 67 years. Of the 1013 patients, 42% were elderly and 58% were young; 57% were men; and 66% had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) 0 or 1. Fewer elderly patients were offered systemic therapy compared with young patients (48% vs. 77%; P < .001). Among those treated, elderly patients were less likely than young patients to receive combination chemotherapy (47% vs. 81%; P < .0001) and bevacizumab (19% vs. 47%; P < .0001). The most common reasons for no treatment were similar for the elderly and young patients: patient choice, poor ECOG PS, and significant comorbidities. Advanced age alone was also cited as a reason for elderly but not for young patients (7% vs. 0%). When treated, the risk of adverse events and treatment interruptions was comparable between age groups. The receipt of systemic therapy was associated with improved OS in both elderly (hazard ratio [HR], 0.45; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.37-0.56; P < .0001) and young (HR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.35-0.53; P < .0001) patients, regardless of age (interaction P > .05).

CONCLUSION

In carefully selected elderly patients, the outcomes from systemic therapy were comparable to those for young patients. Thus, age alone should not be a barrier to treatment of mCC.

Randomized phase III trial in elderly patients comparing LV5FU2 with or without irinotecan for first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (FFCD 2001-02)

BACKGROUND

Metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) frequently occurs in elderly patients. However, data from a geriatric tailored randomized trial about tolerance to and the efficacy of doublet chemotherapy (CT) with irinotecan in the elderly are lacking. The benefit of first-line CT intensification remains an issue in elderly patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Elderly patients (75+) with previously untreated mCRC were randomly assigned in a 2 × 2 factorial design (four arms) to receive 5-FU (5-fluorouracil)-based CT, either alone (FU: LV5FU2 or simplified LV5FU2) or in combination with irinotecan [IRI: LV5FU2-irinotecan or simplified LV5FU2-irinotecan (FOLFIRI)]. The CLASSIC arm was defined as LV5FU2 or LV5FU2-irinotecan and the SIMPLIFIED arm as simplified LV5FU2 or FOLFIRI. The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary end points were overall survival (OS), safety and objective response rate (ORR).

RESULTS

From June 2003 to May 2010, 71 patients were randomly assigned to LV5FU2, 71 to simplified LV5FU2, 70 to LV5FU2-irinotecan and 70 to FOLFIRI. The median age was 80 years (range 75-92 years). No significant difference was observed for the median PFS: FU 5.2 months versus IRI 7.3 months, hazard ratio (HR) = 0.84 (0.66-1.07), P = 0.15 and CLASSIC 6.5 months versus SIMPLIFIED 6.0 months, HR = 0.85 (0.67-1.09), P = 0.19. The ORR was superior in IRI (P = 0.0003): FU 21.1% versus IRI 41.7% and in CLASSIC (P = 0.04): CLASSIC 37.1% versus SIMPLIFIED 25.6%. Median OS was 14.2 months in FU versus 13.3 months in IRI, HR = 0.96 (0.75-1.24) and 15.2 months in CLASSIC versus 11.4 months in SIMPLIFIED, HR = 0.71 (0.55-0.92). More patients presented grade 3-4 toxicities in IRI (52.2% versus 76.3%).

CONCLUSION

In this elderly population, adding irinotecan to an infusional 5-FU-based CT did not significantly increase either PFS or OS. Classic LV5FU2 was associated with an improved OS compared with simplified LV5FU2.

CLINICALTRIALSGOV

NCT00303771.

First line palliative chemotherapy in elderly patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma

BACKGROUND

The efficacy and toxicity of first line palliative chemotherapy for soft tissue sarcomas (STS) in the elderly is poorly described.

METHODS

Patients over the age of 65 years receiving first line chemotherapy for advanced non-GIST STS January 1998 - January 2012 at the Royal Marsden Hospital were identified. Data regarding survival and predictive factors were collected retrospectively.

RESULTS

120 patients (52 females) with a median age of 72 (range 65-83) were treated. The most common histological subtypes were undifferentiated sarcoma (30%), leiomyosarcoma (27%), angiosarcoma (14%). 42% of patients had high grade tumours. 70% of patients had metastatic disease at presentation; lung metastasis being the most common disease site (72%). 80% received single agent chemotherapy, mostly with doxorubicin (60%). The median number of cycles was 2 (IQR 3). A partial response was reported in 20% of patients with disease stabilisation in a further 20%. 38% of patients were hospitalised for chemotherapy related toxicity. The median overall survival (OS) was 6.5 months (95% CI 4.7-8.3). Anaemia, lymphopenia, hypoalbuminemia, sarcoma subtype and co-morbidities were predictive for overall survival.

CONCLUSION

The overall survival for elderly patients with STS is poor but several predictive factors have been identified. Hospital admissions for chemotherapy related toxicity are common.

Emerging roles of frailty and inflammaging in risk assessment of age-related chronic diseases in older adults: the intersection between aging biology and personalized medicine

A chronic disease in older adults usually runs a course that is less predictable than in younger individuals. Unexplained variations in disease incidence, prognosis, therapeutic responses, and toxicity are frequently observed among older adults. This heterogeneity poses huge challenges to the current one-size-fits-all health care systems, and calls for more personalized managements of chronic diseases in older adults. Aging is characterized by progressive deterioration of bodily functions with increasing risk of failure over time. The entire process is hierarchically organized, and progresses from intracellular events to changes at systemic and ultimately organism levels at different rates among different individuals. Aging biology exerts great influences on the development and progression of most age-related chronic diseases. Thus, aging biology could contribute to the complexity of illnesses that increase with age, and aging biomarkers possess a great potential to enable personalized health risk assessment and health care. We review evidences supporting the roles of aging biomarkers in risk assessment of prevalent age-related diseases. Frailty phenotype is an objectively measured indicator of advanced-stage aging that is characterized by organism-level dysfunction. In contrast, altered inflammation markers level signifies an earlier stage between cellular abnormalities and systems dysfunction. Results of human observational studies and randomized controlled trials indicate that these measures, albeit simple, greatly facilitate classification of older patients with cancer, chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes mellitus into groups that vary in disease incidence, prognosis and therapeutic response/toxicity. As the detailed mechanisms underlying the complex biologic process of aging are unraveled in the future, a larger array of biomarkers that correlate with biologic aging at different stages will be discovered. Following the translational research framework described in this article, these research efforts would result in innovations in disease prevention and management that address the huge unmet health needs of aging populations.

An update on the management of metastatic colorectal cancer in the elderly

SUMMARY 

The availability of new chemotherapeutic and targeted agents has changed the life expectancy of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer thanks to the possibility of sequentially administering fluoropyrimidines combined with irinotecan and oxaliplatin plus monoclonal antibodies. This approach is seldom feasible in the elderly, especially because of the poor tolerability of some agents. Frail patients should only receive palliative treatment. Oppositely, fit elderly patients can be treated with more aggressive therapies, similarly to the younger ones. What is not sufficiently known is how to manage the elderly categorized as intermediate. In the coming years, it appears necessary how to accurately differentiate the elderly through a comprehensive geriatric assessment performed with validated scales and uniformed criteria simpler than those currently available.

Treatment of colorectal cancer in older patients: International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG) consensus recommendations 2013

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in Europe and worldwide, with the peak incidence in patients >70 years of age. However, as the treatment algorithms for the treatment of patients with CRC become ever more complex, it is clear that a significant percentage of older CRC patients (>70 years) are being less than optimally treated. This document provides a summary of an International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG) task force meeting convened in Paris in 2013 to update the existing expert recommendations for the treatment of older (geriatric) CRC patients published in 2009 and includes overviews of the recent data on epidemiology, geriatric assessment as it relates to surgery and oncology, and the ability of older CRC patients to tolerate surgery, adjuvant chemotherapy, treatment of their metastatic disease including palliative chemotherapy with and without the use of the biologics, and finally the use of adjuvant and palliative radiotherapy in the treatment of older rectal cancer patients. An overview of each area was presented by one of the task force experts and comments invited from other task force members.

First-line mono-chemotherapy in frail elderly patients with metastatic colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Unlike for fit elderly metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients, general approaches to initial treatment for the frail older mCRC patients are not clear. Our aim was to evaluate the efficiency and safety of first-line single-agent treatment in one such group.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated mCRC patients aged 70 or older with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance score of 2. They had no prior treatment and underwent first-line single-agent capecitabine or other monotherapies until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

RESULTS

Thirty-six patients were included. Most (n:28, 77.8%) were treated with capecitabine. One patient achieved a complete response and 5 patients had a partial response for an overall response rate of 16.6%. Twelve patients (33.3%) remained stable. Median progression free survival was 5 months (confidence interval (CI), %; 3.59-6.40) and median overall survival was 10 months (95 CI%; 8.1-11.8). Grade 3-4 toxicity was found in 6 patients (16.6%). Febrile neutropenia was not observed and there were no toxicity-associated deaths.

CONCLUSIONS

Capecitabine is a safe chemotherapeutic agent with moderate activity for first-line treatment of older metastatic colorectal cancer patients with limited performance status.

Geriatric factors predict chemotherapy feasibility: ancillary results of FFCD 2001-02 phase III study in first-line chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer in elderly patients

PURPOSE

Elderly patients form a heterogeneous population. Evaluation of geriatric factors may help evaluate a patient's health status to better adapt treatment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Elderly patients with previously untreated metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) were randomly assigned to receive fluorouracil (FU) -based chemotherapy either alone or in combination with irinotecan (IRI) in the Fédération Francophone de Cancérologie Digestive (FFCD) 2001-02 study. Sites participating in the geriatric substudy completed geriatric screening tools to perform prognostic factor analyses for treatment safety during the first 4 months after treatment initiation.

RESULTS

The geriatric score was calculated in 123 patients (44%). Median age was 80 years (range, 75 to 91 years). The Charlson comorbidity index was ≤ 1 in 75%, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score was ≤ 27/30 in 31%, and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) showed impairment in 34% of the patients. Seventy-one patients (58%) had grade 3 to 4 toxicity, 41 (33%) had a dose-intensity reduction of more than 33%, and 54 (44%) had at least one unexpected hospitalization during the first 4 months after starting treatment. In multivariate analysis, significant predictive factors for grade 3-4 toxicity were IRI arm (odds ratio [OR], 5.03), MMSE ≤ 27/30 (OR, 3.84), and impaired IADL (OR, 4.67); for dose-intensity reduction of > 33%, the significant predictive factors were alkaline phosphates > 2 × upper limit of normal (OR, 4.16) and IRI arm (OR, 6.85); and for unexpected hospitalization, significant predictive factors were MMSE ≤ 27/30 (OR, 4.56) and Geriatric Depression Scale ≤ 2 (OR, 5.52).

CONCLUSION

Geriatric factors (MMSE and IADL) are predictive of severe toxicity or unexpected hospitalization (MMSE) in a randomized prospective phase III study in mCRC. These results suggest that cognitive function and autonomy impairment should be taken into account when choosing a regimen for chemotherapy.

Evaluation of efficacy and safety of FOLFIRI for elderly patients with gastric cancer: a first-line phase II study

OBJECTIVE

Current chemotherapy protocols for gastric cancer present high toxicity. The FOLFIRI regimen has shown promising results with elderly colorectal cancer patients and for gastric cancer patients but this is the first report on elderly gastric cancer patients.

DESIGN

In this multicenter non-randomized phase II trial, we administered the FOLFIRI chemotherapy protocol (irinotecan [180 mg/m(2)], fluorouracil [5-FU] [400 mg/m(2)] and folinic acid 400 mg/m(2) or 200mg/m(2) of l-folinic acid) to patients aged over 70 years with locally-advanced or metastatic gastric cancer combined with Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA). Responses were assessed at 2 months.

RESULTS

Forty-two patients received eight cycles of the FOLFIRI regimen, with 82.5% of patients showing disease control: 10 patients (26%) showing objective (partial or complete) responses and 23 (57.5%) showing stable disease. One-year overall survival (OS) was 41.5% [95%CI 26.5-56.0] and one-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 31.8% [95%CI 18.4-46.1%]. We observed 10 Grade 3/4 hematologic toxicities with one febrile neutropenia. CGA data demonstrated that geriatric functions were not altered by treatment and that nutritional status improved over treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Results show excellent disease control and relatively high survival rates with limited toxicity similar to younger patients indicating that this regimen should be considered as a possible treatment in advanced gastric cancer of the elderly.

Targeted agents: review of toxicity in the elderly metastatic colorectal cancer patients

Colorectal cancer remains a major cause of cancer mortality in the Western world. With a median age at presentation of 71, patients with metastatic disease are often elderly with significant co-morbidities. In addition, elderly patients are more likely to be undertreated and under-represented in clinical trials. Therefore, as the available data from clinical trials are scarce, the optimal treatment strategy for this group of patients has not been adequately defined. In the setting of metastatic colorectal cancer, the introduction of so called targeted agents has significantly improved outcomes in the context of randomized clinical trials, while at the same time increasing treatment options for such patients. This review focuses on the role of targeted therapies in elderly patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, with specific reference to toxicity and tolerability. It should be noted that studies reviewed herein will have mostly included fit elderly patients fulfilling specific inclusion criteria. The available data so far are limited but suggest that targeted agents have similar efficacy and tolerability in elderly fit patients when compared with younger ones, provided caution is exercised in specific high-risk sub-groups. Clearly, further studies aimed at this specific patient population using well-established geriatric end-points will hopefully identify those patients more likely to benefit and less likely to suffer severe side effects.

Gemcitabine in elderly patients with advanced pancreatic cancer

AIM: To assess feasibility, tolerability and efficacy of gemcitabine-based chemotherapy in patients ≥ 75 years old with advanced pancreatic cancer.

METHODS: All consecutive patients ≥ 75 years old with advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma were included in this retrospective study. Necessary criteria to receive chemotherapy were: performance status 0-2, adequate biological parameters and no serious comorbidities. Other patients received best supportive care (BSC).

RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients (53% women, median age 78 years, range 75-84) with pancreatic cancer (metastatic: n = 20, locally advanced: n = 18) were studied. Among them, 30 (79%) were able to receive chemotherapy [median number: 9 infusions (1-45)]. Six patients (23%) had at least one episode of grade 3 neutropenia and one patient developed a grade 3 hemolytic-uremic syndrome. No toxic death occurred. Three patients (11%) had a partial tumor response, 13 (46%) had a stable disease and 12 (43%) had a tumor progression. Median survival was 9.1 mo (metastatic: 6.9 mo, locally advanced: 11.4 mo).

CONCLUSION: Tolerance and efficacy of gemcitabine-based chemotherapy is acceptable in elderly patients in good condition, with similar results to younger patients.

Adjuvant capecitabine chemotherapy using a tailored-dose strategy in elderly patients with colon cancer

BACKGROUND

This study was conducted to analyze the feasibility of adjuvant capecitabine therapy using a tailored-dose escalation strategy in elderly patients with colon cancer (CC).

METHODS

CC patients (≥ 70 years of age) who received adjuvant capecitabine were enrolled. The starting dosage of capecitabine was 2000 mg/m(2)/day (days 1-14, every 3 weeks). On the second cycle, the dosage was escalated to 2500 mg/m(2)/day if the patient tolerated the first cycle. Dose intensity (DI), toxicity, and the change in quality of life (QoL) were evaluated.

RESULTS

Of 82 patients enrolled, 67 completed eight cycles. Dose escalation to 2500 mg/m(2)/day was possible in 56 patients, and this dosage was maintained in 24 patients until the completion of chemotherapy (eight cycles). Forty-one patients completed therapy with a DI ≥ 1333 mg/m(2)/day [relative dose intensity (RDI) ≥ 80%]. Toxic effects were tolerable and the QoL was not compromised during treatment. Creatinine clearance < 50 ml/min and Charlson-Age comorbidity index ≥ 8 were related to a reduced capecitabine dosage (RDI < 80%).

CONCLUSIONS

A tailored-dose escalation strategy was feasible in elderly CC patients receiving adjuvant capecitabine chemotherapy. Decreased renal function and an increased number of comorbidities were independently predictive of reduced administration of the capecitabine dose.

Comorbidity, not age, is prognostic in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer receiving gemcitabine-based chemotherapy

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the impact of age and comorbidity on clinical outcomes in advanced pancreatic cancer.

METHODS

Consecutive 237 patients with advanced pancreatic cancer were studied. Comorbidity was scored by Charlson comorbidity index (CCI). We compared the clinical outcomes by age or comorbidity.

RESULTS

Sixty-nine patients were elderly (≥75 years), and CCI was 0 in 69 patients, 1 in 98, and ≥2 in 70. Gemcitabine-based chemotherapy was administered in 183 patients and was well tolerated in both elderly group and in those with comorbidities. In a multivariate analysis, CCI, not age, was prognostic in addition to PS, distant metastasis, chemotherapy and CA19-9: the hazard ratios of CCI 1 and ≥2 were 1.25 and 1.55, compared with CCI 0 (p=0.027).

CONCLUSIONS

Gemcitabine-based chemotherapy can be an effective treatment, without significant toxicity, in elderly patients. Comorbidity, not age, was prognostic in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.

XELOX in colorectal cancer: a convenient option for the future?

XELOX is a 3-weekly chemotherapy combination of oral capecitabine and intravenous oxaliplatin. The central hypothesis that led to its development was that it would provide a convenient and cost-effective alternative to intravenous fluorouracil-based chemotherapy doublets, without compromising on anti-tumor efficacy. Recently its role in colorectal cancer has become more established in both the metastatic and adjuvant setting. Ongoing investigation of XELOX continues in a number of directions: its combination with novel biological agents, its efficacy and safety in the elderly, and the development of biomarkers that can predict its anti-tumor effect. This article provides a comprehensive and up-to-date synopsis of all pertinent clinical studies detailing this regimen and its promise for the future.

Impact of age, sex, and comorbidity on cancer therapy and disease progression

A theme of personalized medicine was highlighted at the 2009 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. To this end, the current review focuses on the impact of host characteristics (such as age, sex, and comorbidity) as they pertain to cancer biology, treatment efficacy, and tolerance. Increasing age is associated with complex changes in physiology, including alterations in renal and hepatic function, and decreased bone marrow reserve. These may in turn result in alterations in pharmacokinetics and toxicity related to many commonly used anticancer agents. Using tools, such as the geriatric assessment, may help to elucidate the physiologic age of the patient as opposed to the chronologic age. Increasing age is paralleled by an increase in comorbidity, and comorbidity may have independent prognostic implications and substantially impact medical decision making in the patient with cancer. Numerous biologic ties between cancer and comorbidity exist, one example being an association of diabetes with an increased risk of disease recurrence and mortality in the setting of colon cancer. Biologic features can also vary by sex; several biomarkers with either prognostic or predictive value (ie, excisionrepair cross-complementation group 1 expression, epidermal growth factor receptor mutation, or dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase polymorphism) may differentiate efficacy or toxicity in males and females. Taken together, age, sex, and comorbidity each encompass a complex array of physiologic and molecular variations that may each aid in personalizing care for the patient with cancer.

A phase II study of oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, and high-dose capecitabine in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer

PURPOSE

Capecitabine has shown similar efficacy to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU); a regimen containing 2 weeks of capecitabine/oxaliplatin (CapOx) has demonstrated noninferiority to infusional 5-FU/oxaliplatin/leucovorin (FOLFOX) for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). This phase II study explores the efficacy and safety of a 2-day course of oxaliplatin/capecitabine (2DOC), with oxaliplatin given on day 1 and capecitabine given orally every 8 hours in high doses over 6 doses, mimicking FOLFOX6.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This phase II study was conducted by the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center. Eligible patients with mCRC received oxaliplatin 100 mg/m2 intravenously (I.V.) over 2 hours followed by leucovorin 20 mg/m2 I.V. bolus and 5-FU 400 mg/m2 I.V. bolus on day 1 and day 15. Capecitabine was administered at 1500 mg/m2 orally every 8 hours over 6 doses starting on day 1 and day 15.

RESULTS

A total of 45 patients were enrolled; 44 were evaluated for response. Seventeen patients (39%) had objective responses. Median time to progression was 6.8 months, and median overall survival (OS) was 17.5 months. The most common side effects were grade 1/2 neuropathy, fatigue, and nausea. Severe hand-foot syndrome (HFS) was rare.

CONCLUSION

The overall response rate with the 2DOC regimen is similar to published CapOx regimens, and time to progression and OS are similar. The incidence of HFS, diarrhea, and mucositis were lower compared with published results of 2-week schedules of capecitabine. The 2DOC regimen merits further study as a more convenient regimen than infusional 5-FU with less HFS when compared with a 2-week administration of capecitabine.

Capecitabine in combination with oxaliplatin or irinotecan in elderly patients with advanced colorectal cancer: results of a randomized phase II study

BACKGROUND

To determine the efficacy and tolerability of capecitabine combined with oxaliplatin (CAPOX) or irinotecan (CAPIRI) as first-line treatment in patients with advanced/metastatic colorectal cancer aged > or =70 years.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients aged > or =70 years were randomly assigned to receive CAPOX [oxaliplatin 65 mg/m(2) intravenously (i.v.) days 1 and 8 and capecitabine 1000 mg/m(2) orally b.i.d. days 1-14; q21d] or CAPIRI (irinotecan 80 mg/m(2) i.v. days 1 and 8 and capecitabine 1000 mg/m(2) orally b.i.d. days 1-14; q21d). The primary study end point was overall response rate (ORR).

RESULTS

Ninety-four patients were enrolled. In an intent-to-treat analysis, 2 complete responses (CRs) and 16 partial responses (PRs) were reported with CAPOX (ORR 38%), and 2 CRs and 15 PRs with CAPIRI (ORR 36%; P = 0.831). Median time to progression was 8 months for CAPOX and 7 months for CAPIRI (P = 0.195), with median survival times of 19.3 months and 14.0 months (P = 0.165), respectively. Global health status was improved in 45% and in 21% of patients in the CAPOX and CAPIRI arms, respectively. The most common treatment-related grade 3-4 adverse events in CAPIRI versus CAPOX patients were diarrhea (32% versus 15%; P = 0.052) and neutropenia (23% versus 6%; P = 0.021).

CONCLUSION

CAPOX and CAPIRI had similar efficacy in elderly patients, although CAPOX seemed to be better tolerated.

Treatment of Elderly Cancer Patients with Chemotherapy

Persons over the age of 65 are the fastest growing segment of the United States population. In the next 30 years, they will comprise over 20 percent of the population. Fifty percent of all cancers occur in this age group and, therefore, there will be an expected rise in the total cancer burden. Data is becoming available that will better guide the use of chemotherapy in the older patient population. Information regarding age-related physiologic changes are presented with their relationship to pharmacology, functional status, and hematopoiesis. Treatments are reviewed in regard to the adjuvant treatment of breast and colon cancer as well as primary therapy of aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The treatment of more advanced breast, ovary and non-small cell lung cancer also are discussed.

Chemotherapy for operable and advanced colorectal cancer

The majority of colorectal cancer patients receive chemotherapy either to palliate advanced unresectable disease or to reduce the risk of recurrence after radical surgery. Thanks to the improvements in systemic chemotherapy, in the last 20 years the median survival time for patients with unresectable metastatic disease has indeed progressively increased from less than 6 to almost 24 months and recurrences after radical surgery in patients with early-stage tumors have been halved. Although colorectal cancer incidence increase with aging, there is limited scientific evidence based on prospective clinical trials to guide the management of elderly colorectal cancer patients. In addition, aging is a continuum process making strict cut-off difficult to define and homogeneous subgroups hard to identify. There is significant heterogeneity also as regards comorbidities, overall physical ability, mental health and functional status. Specific guidelines for the medical treatment of elderly colorectal cancer patients are therefore difficult to draw. While fit patients are generally treated with adult protocols and frail individuals rarely receive chemotherapy, managing the intermediate vulnerable patients requires a careful balance between the biological and psycho-social costs of treatment, the aggressiveness of the tumor and its perception by the patient. In this review, the major achievements of chemotherapy in the treatment of colorectal cancer will be described and the available data addressing the extension of these chemotherapy programs to elderly patients will be discussed. Special emphasis will be given to the development of specific treatment strategies depending on the degree of disease aggressiveness. Empirical suggestions to adapt the chemotherapy programs developed for adult fit patients to subjects with various degrees of vulnerability and frailty will also be given along with practical indications for the use of specific chemotherapeutic agents in the presence of some common elderly-related comorbidities.

Chemotherapy for colorectal cancer in the elderly: Whom to treat and what to use

The median age at diagnosis of colorectal cancer is during the seventh decade, and the incidence of the disease increases continuously with age. However, as the age increases, the possibilities of receiving adequate cancer treatment diminish and the mortality rises. So, there is a huge need for defined treatment strategies in elderly patients with colorectal carcinoma. The geriatric population is a very heterogeneous group where patients with an excellent health status coexist with the patients with both co-morbidities and functional dependency. Therefore, it is necessary to personalize each treatment according to the degree of vulnerability of the elderly patients. It is essential to set up a multidimensional geriatric assessment in order to consider not only the stage of the disease, but also all the factors that may influence the survival and interfere with the treatment. The aim of this review is to discuss the potential benefits and issues of chemotherapy in the elderly patients affected with colorectal cancer.

Half of elderly patients routinely treated for colorectal cancer receive a sub-standard treatment

BACKGROUND

Several database studies report a lack of care in elderly patients with colorectal cancer.

PURPOSE

To describe the management of elderly patients admitted for colorectal cancer; to identify factors associated with standard management according to recommendations and to study factors influencing the survival.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

All consecutive patients over 75 years managed for a colorectal adenocarcinoma in our hospital from 1995 to 2000 and followed until 2006 were retrospectively included. The appropriateness of the management of their disease according to the recommendations available at that time was assessed. Several risk factors in receiving the standard cancer treatment were tested using univariate and then multivariate logistic regression. Risk factors of survival were studied using univariate and then multivariate survival analysis.

RESULTS

One hundred and ten patients were included. Median age was 82 years (range: 75-96). A surgical treatment was performed in 96 patients. The median overall survival was 32 (1-108) months. A standard cancer treatment according to recommendations was performed in 53 (48%) patients: adjuvant chemotherapy in 6/23 patients with stage III tumour, palliative chemotherapy in 3/18 patients with stage IV tumour and adjuvant radiotherapy in 4/14 patients who had a rectal tumour resection. Multivariate analysis retains tumour stage I or II (OR=7.6, 95% C.I.=[2.9-19.9], p<0.0001) as the only factor associated with standard treatment and presence of metastasis (HR=3.9, 95% C.I. [1.4-10.8], p=0.005), and Charlson's score >3 (HR=28.9, 95% C.I. [2.5-335.6], p=0.001) as independent risk factors of poor survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Fifty two percent of elderly patients have had a sub-standard cancer treatment. The majority had a surgical treatment, but only a few received chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Metastasis, older age and Charlson's comorbidity score are the main prognosis factors of poor survival.

Chemotherapy in elderly patients with colorectal cancer

Significant advancements in chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) have been achieved over the past decade, and the median overall survival duration is now close to 24 months with appropriate treatment. The most widely recommended chemotherapy regimens are based on the use of irinotecan or oxaliplatin in combination with 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin; some data suggest further benefit with the addition of the targeted agents bevacizumab or cetuximab. Colorectal cancer primarily affects the elderly; however, much of the defining clinical research in this field has excluded subjects of advanced age or with a poor performance status, making it difficult for clinicians to interpret current treatment paradigms for their older patients. Most clinical trials that have included elderly patients document similar survival rates and toxicity profiles to those seen in younger patients. Moreover, survey data suggest that >70% of elderly patients with cancer are willing to undergo strong, palliative chemotherapy. While these findings suggest that age itself should not determine candidacy for chemotherapy, it is important to note the great heterogeneity of the elderly population with regard to overall health, independence, and performance status. The use of a comprehensive geriatric assessment is recommended to evaluate chemotherapy appropriateness. The management of frail elderly patients and those with a short life expectancy should be focused on palliation, while fit elderly patients can receive aggressive therapy in a similar fashion to younger patients.

Anticancer drug therapy in the older cancer patient: pharmacology and polypharmacy

OPINION STATEMENT

Older patients currently are the largest group of oncology patients and their numbers will continue to expand. There has been minimal participation of older patients in clinical trials. This has resulted in a lack of data to make high-level evidence-based decisions with regard to chemotherapy. There has now been a number of clinical trials which have given information with regard to age-related changes and the spectrum of toxicity that occurs with older patients. There is also an expanding literature on organ dysfunction. The overall data seem to indicate that there are a very few age-related changes in the pharmacokinetics of chemotherapy. The small changes that are present have not been clinically significant. It seems that the pattern of toxicity is more reflective of patient selection (functional status, performance status), comorbidity, and drug scheduling. The large number of drugs with significant renal excretion requires careful evaluation of renal function. Future clinical trial design needs to be adapted to older patients. Therefore, drugs, which will be primarily used by older patients, should be studied in older patients. These studies should involve pharmacokinetics, and oral therapies should include measurements of compliance. Phase II trials of new agents should consider prospectively dividing groups of patients by age (i.e., <75 years vs. >or=75 years). Phase I trials should consider accruing older patients. The studies can be performed in the older group by using progressive degrees of functional impairment and increasing comorbidity as a surrogate for dose limiting toxicity. Functional independence as a clinical benefit of cancer treatment in older individuals should be considered as an endpoint. Overall survival may not be an appropriate endpoint in clinical trials in the oldest group. Clinical trials should consider studying long-term functional and medical consequences of cancer treatment in long-term older cancer survivors. Journal editors should encourage the inclusion of age-related analyses in the reporting of clinical trials to provide meaningful information for clinicians caring for older patients. Ideally, the clinical trial design should prospectively incorporate age analysis to maximize clinical benefit of data generated. A careful assessment of medication used in older patients needs to be part of routine evaluation to minimize the adverse effects of polypharmacy.

Cetuximab efficacy and safety in a retrospective cohort of elderly patients with heavily pretreated metastatic colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Few data are available from clinical trials for elderly patients receiving cetuximab.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The clinical data of consecutive patients aged > or =70 years given cetuximab for metastatic CRC were retrospectively captured from hospital pharmacy registries in seven centers.

RESULTS

Fifty-six patients received cetuximab+/-with irinotecan. Median age was 76 years (70-84), 86% of patients were pretreated with fluoropyrimidines, irinotecan and oxaliplatin and 69.6% had documented resistance to irinotecan. Objective response rate was 21% (95% CI: 11-32%). The median progression-free survival was 4.4 months (95% CI: 3.0-5.7 months) and the median overall survival was 16.0 months (95% CI: 13.5-18.5 months). Skin rash occurred in 75% of the patients (11% grade 3) and diarrhea in 80% (20% grades 3-4).

CONCLUSION

Tolerability of cetuximab was acceptable in elderly patients with pretreated metastatic CRC. Efficacy appeared similar to that observed in younger patients.

FOLFOX in patients aged between 76 and 80 years with metastatic colorectal cancer: an exploratory cohort of the OPTIMOX1 study

BACKGROUND

Patients older than 75 years of age are usually excluded from metastatic colorectal cancer randomized studies. The OPTIMOX1 study evaluated FOLFOX7, a simplified (s) leucovorin (LV) and 5-fluorouracil (5FU) regimen (sLV5FU2) with high-dose oxaliplatin, in a new oxaliplatin stop-and-go strategy. An exploratory cohort of patients aged 76 to 80 years was included in the study.

METHODS

In all, 620 previously untreated patients were randomized between FOLFOX4 until progression (arm A), or FOLFOX7 for 6 cycles, maintenance without oxaliplatin for 12 cycles, and reintroduction of FOLFOX7 (arm B).

RESULTS

A total of 37 patients aged 76 to 80 years were included, 20 in arm A and 17 in arm B. The overall response rate (ORR) was 59.4%, comparable to younger patients (59%). Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 9.0 months and median overall survival (OS) was 20.7 months. These results did not differ from that in younger patients < or =75 years in the OPTIMOX1 study with PFS 9.0 months (P = .63) and OS 20.2 months (P = .57). They experienced slightly more grade 3 of 4 toxicity than younger patients: 65% versus 48% (P = .06), mainly with more neutropenia (41% vs 24%, P = .03) and neurotoxicity (22% vs 11%, P = .06). Tolerability, however, was manageable and no toxic death occurred in this elderly population.

CONCLUSIONS

The efficacy of FOLFOX-based treatment was maintained in patients >75 years with both FOLFOX regimens. The oxaliplatin stop-and-go management strategy performed well in this population.

Current treatment strategies in elderly patients with metastatic colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers in the Western world, with > 500,000 new cases diagnosed each year. One of the strongest risk factors for colon cancer is age. The incidence rates rise from 10 in 100,000 at age 40-45 years to 300 in 100,000 at age 75-80 years, with the median age at diagnosis of CRC being 71 years. With the general demographic shift toward an aging population, the number of people aged > 65 years is expected to increase. This article reviews the development of treatment for elderly patients with metastatic CRC, from single-agent fluoropyrimidines to combination therapies.

International Society of Geriatric Oncology Chemotherapy Taskforce: evaluation of chemotherapy in older patients--an analysis of the medical literature

The elderly comprise the majority of patients with cancer and are the recipients of the greatest amount of chemotherapy. Unfortunately, there is a lack of data to make evidence-based decisions with regard to chemotherapy. This is due to the minimal participation of older patients in clinical trials and that trials have not systematically evaluated chemotherapy. This article reviews the available information with regard to chemotherapy and aging provided by a task force of the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG). Due to the lack of prospective data, the conclusions and recommendations made are a consensus of the participants. Extrapolation of data from younger to older patients is necessary, particularly to those patients older than 80 years, for which data is almost entirely lacking. The classes of drugs reviewed include alkylators, antimetabolites, anthracyclines, taxanes, camptothecins, and epipodophyllotoxins. Clinical trials need to incorporate an analysis of chemotherapy in terms of the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic effects of aging. In addition, data already accumulated need to be reanalyzed by age to aid in the management of the older cancer patient.

Oxaliplatin in the treatment of colorectal cancer

Significant advances in the treatment of colorectal cancer have been observed over the past several years. With the introduction of oxaliplatin combined with infusional 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin, survival for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer has nearly doubled. The incorporation of biologic agents that target angiogenesis (bevacizumab) and tumor growth pathways (cetuximab, panitumimab) extends survival even further, in addition to increasing response rates in patients with metastatic disease. The benefit of these newer drugs is also being realized in the adjuvant setting, where the addition of oxaliplatin to infusional 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin has led to improvements in 3-year disease-free survival. Future challenges with the use of oxaliplatin include defining strategies to optimize its use while avoiding treatment-limiting neurotoxicity and identification of markers predictive of response.