Gastric carcinoma at tanta cancer center : a comparative retrospective clinico-pathological study of the elderly versus the non-elderly

الملخص EN

Background and aims : To study the clinico-pathological features, treatments and outcomes of gastric carcinoma (GC) in the elderly (P65 years) and the non-elderly Egyptian patients.

Methods : This retrospective cohort study included 168 patients with histologically confirmed GC treated at Tanta Cancer Center between 2003 and 2007.

Results : Compared to the non-elderly, elderly patients had significantly higher proportion of tumors involving the cardia (p = 0.034) and of adenocarcinoma NOS histology (p = 0.032).

Treatments were largely comparable in the two groups.

Response to palliative chemotherapy was achieved in 44.4 % of the elderly and 25.5 % of the non-elderly patients (p = 0.417).

The median overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were 6, 17 and 3 months, respectively.

The median OS was 4 months in the elderly compared to 9 months in the non-elderly (p = 0.005).

The median DFS was 4 months in the elderly compared to 20 months in the non-elderly (p = 0.004).

The median PFS was 2 months in the elderly compared to 3 months in the non-elderly (p = 0.685).

In multivariate analysis, poor performance status was an independent predictor of poor OS, DFS and PFS.

Non-curative or no surgery and lack of chemotherapy use were independent predictors of poor OS.

Age was an independent predictor of poor DFS.

Conclusions : Compared to the non-elderly, GC in the elderly has similar clinico-pathological characteristics and exhibits comparable outcomes with the same treatment options.

Treatments should be tailored to each patient.