FEASIBILITY AND TOLERANCE OF CISPLATIN AND FLUOROURACIL INFUSION IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMA

Many head and neck and esophageal cancers are diagnosed in patients ov er 65 years old, but limited data are available on the tolerance of el derly patients to chemotherapy protocols designed for adults. We there fore retrospectively evaluated tolerance of cisplatin (100 mg/m(2) day 1) plus fluorouracil (1,000 mg/m(2)/day as a 120 h infusion) in a gro up of patients over 65 years of age with squamous cell carcinoma (n=20 , group A) and compared it with a second group of younger patients (n= 20, group B). Baseline patient characteristics were well balanced betw een the 2 groups. The median age was 69 years (range, 66-76) in group A and 47 years (range, 19-61) in group B. A total of 54 cycles (range, 1-6) and 65 cycles (range, 1-7) were delivered respectively in group A and B. Dose reductions were required in 9% (group A) and in 10% (gro up B) of the cycles. No toxic death was recorded in either group. No s tatistical difference in hematological toxicity was observed between t he 2 groups of patients. Although the incidence of grade 1-2 renal tox icity was higher in elderly patients (5 vs 1), the difference was not significant (p=0.09). A similar incidence of mucositis (25%), nausea/v omiting (40%) and diarrhea (5%) was observed for each group. In conclu sion, selected elderly patients with good performance status and adequ ate organ function can be safely treated with CDDP and FU without sign ificantly increased toxicity.