2Department of Medical Oncology, Cumhuriyet University Faculty of Medicine, Sivas-Türkiye DOI : 10.5505/tjo.2024.4380 OBJECTIVE
To evaluate, according to age, the acute toxicity and adverse events, such as interruption or cessation of chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and weight loss, in cancer patients.
METHODS
A total of 813 patients, 67% aged <65 years and 33% aged ?65 years, were analyzed retrospectively. Toxicities
were graded according to the acute radiation morbidity measurement criteria of the Radiation
Therapy Oncology Group.
RESULTS
For all patients, 5% of the younger and 12% of the elderly patients (p<0.001) ended CRT, 1% of the
younger and 4% of the elderly patients died during treatment (p=0.007). There were differences between
the groups treated for brain cancer in terms of performance status (p=0.010), cessation (p=0.001), interruption
(p=0.026), and death during treatment (p=0.043). For head and neck cancer, the results showed
differences in comorbidity (p<0.001), performance status (p=0.017), and death during CRT (p=0.021).
In the thoracic area, differences were found in comorbidity (p=0.015), CRT interruption (p=0.014),
grade 1?2 skin toxicity (p=0.025), pharynx/esophagus (p=0.002), upper gastrointestinal tract (p=0.036),
and hematocrit (p=0.032). For the abdominal area, differences were observed in comorbidity (p<0.001)
and grade 1?2 platelet toxicity (p=0.029). For the pelvis, differences were seen in comorbidity (p<0.001),
performance status (p=0.045), and CRT interruption (p=0.032).
CONCLUSION
Cessation, interruption, and death during CRT were observed more frequently in elderly patients.