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Targeted Therapies in Elderly Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: A Review of the Evidence

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Abstract

Metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) is the third leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. As the population of the western world ages, the incidence of colorectal tumours among elderly patients is increasing and consequently so is the demand for treatments for elderly patients. Unfortunately, elderly patients (≥65 years) often go untreated and they are also under-represented in clinical trials. Yet there is some evidence suggesting that ‘fit’ elderly patients have similar outcomes and tolerance to chemotherapy treatment to their younger counterparts (although the definition of fitness in the elderly population is still a matter of debate). The evidence supporting the administration of new targeted therapies in patients older than 65 years is scarce and more research is needed. In this paper, we review all the available data concerning the use of targeted therapies for mCRC in patients older than 65 years of age and discuss the differences between this age subgroup and younger patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Department of Medical Oncology, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia

    Gonzalo Tapia Rico, Amanda R. Townsend, Vy Broadbridge & Timothy J. Price

  2. University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia

    Amanda R. Townsend & Timothy J. Price

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  1. Gonzalo Tapia Rico
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Correspondence to Timothy J. Price.

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Drs. Tapia Rico, Townsend and Broadbridge declare no conflicts of interest. Prof. Price has served on Advisory Boards for Amgen, Merck, Roche and Bayer.

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Tapia Rico, G., Townsend, A.R., Broadbridge, V. et al. Targeted Therapies in Elderly Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: A Review of the Evidence. Drugs Aging 34, 173–189 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40266-017-0439-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40266-017-0439-9

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