Feasibility of image-guided radiotherapy for elderly patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.

Nam P Nguyen
Misty Ceizyk
Jacqueline Vock
Paul Vos
Alexander Chi
Vincent Vinh-Hung
Judy Pugh
Rihan Khan
Christina Truong
Gabby Albala
Angela Locke
Ulf Karlsson
Steve Gelumbauskas
Lexie Smith-Raymond

Open link

DOI

10.1371/journal.pone.0071250

Publisher

Public Library of Science (PLoS)

Journal

issn:1932-6203

Abstract

PURPOSE: The study aims to assess the tolerance of elderly patients (70 years or older) with locally advanced rectal cancers to image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT). A retrospective review of 13 elderly patients with locally advanced rectal cancer who underwent preoperative chemoradiation using IGRT was performed. Grade 3-4 acute toxicities, survival, and long-term complications were compared to 17 younger patients (<70 years) with the same disease stage. RESULTS: Grade 3-4 hematologic toxicities occurred in 7.6% and 0% (p = 0.4) and gastrointestinal toxicities, and, in 15.2% and 5% (p = 0.5), of elderly and younger patients, respectively. Surgery was aborted in three patients, two in the elderly group and one in the younger group. One patient ...