Cetuximab efficacy and safety in a retrospective cohort of elderly patients with heavily pretreated metastatic colorectal cancer

Background: Few data are available from clinical trials for elderly patients receiving cetuximab. Patients and methods: The clinical data of consecutive patients aged >= 70 years given cetuximab for metastatic CRC were retrospectively captured from hospital pharmacy registries in seven centers. Results: Fifty-six patients received cetuximab with irinotecan. Median age was 76 years (70-84), 86% of patients were pretreated with fluoropyrimidines, irinotecan and oxaliplatin and 69.6% had documented resistance to irinotecan. Objective response rate was 21% (95% CI: 11-32%). The median progression-free survival was 4.4 months (95% Cl: 3.0-5.7 months) and the median overall survival was 16.0 months (95% CI: 13.5-18.5 months). Skin rash occurred in 75% of the patients (11% grade 3) and diarrhea in 80% (20% grades 3-4). Conclusion: Tolerability of cetuximab was acceptable in elderly patients with pretreated metastatic CRC. Efficacy appeared similar to that observed in younger patients. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.