Abstract
e15086 Background: Gastric cancer is more common in elderly pts with its highest incidence around the seventh decade of life. Most oncologists are reluctant to treat this population with the most active polichemotherapy combinations because of safety concerns. Subgroup analyses of elderly pts enrolled in European studies show limited and conflicting data.We previously reported on the feasibility and high activity of a dose-dense TCF regimen (Tomasello 2010). This is a retrospective analysis of efficacy and safety of this schema in the elderly pts subgroup (≥ 65 years). Methods: From Nov 2004 to Jan 2013, 119 consecutivepts with MGC, PS 0-2, not previously treated, received Docetaxel 70 mg/m2 d1, Cisplatin 60 mg/m2 d1, l-Folinic Acid 100 mg/m2 d1-2, followed by 5-FU 400 mg/m2 bolus d1-2, and then 600 mg/m222 h c.i. d1-2, every 2 weeks, plus Pegfilgrastim 6 mg on day 3. Pts aged ≥ 65 years (60) received the same schedule with doses reducted by 30%. Results: Overall pts characteristics: 76% male, 24% female; median age: 65, range 31-81. A median of 4 cycles was administered. 102 pts were evaluable for response (86%) and all for toxicity. In pts aged ≥ 65 y, we observed 5 CR (8%), 26 PR (43%), 10 SD (17%) and 7 PD (12%); in younger pts: 3 CR (5%), 32 PR (54%), 9 SD (15%) and 10 PD (17%); ORR by ITT was 56% (95% CI 45-64). Median OS was 11,2 months (95% CI 9,4-14,1); in elderly and younger pts was 11,2 (95% CI 7,3-15,1) and 11,8 (95% CI 9,2-16,2), respectively. Out of 48 evaluable pts aged ≥ 65 years, 24 (50%) were treated at full doses without any delay. In the elderly most frequent grade 3-4 toxicities were: neutropenia (13%, p<0.0001), leucopenia (7%), thrombocytopenia (18%), anemia (3%, p=0.02), febrile neutropenia (8%), asthenia (27%), diarrhea (10%), nausea/vomiting (10%) and hypokalemia (17%); in the younger: neutropenia (56%), leucopenia (31%), thrombocytopenia (22%), anemia (15%), febrile neutropenia (15%), asthenia (41%), diarrhea (15%), nausea/vomiting (22%) and hypokalemia (20%). Conclusions: This study shows that elderly pts can be safely treated with a TCF-dd regimen with a 30% dose reduction achieving similar efficacy results as younger pts with lesser toxicity.
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