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©2013 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Apr 14, 2013; 19(14): 2131-2140
Published online Apr 14, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i14.2131
Published online Apr 14, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i14.2131
Angiogenic inhibitors for older patients with advanced colorectal cancer: Does the age hold the stage?
Giuseppe Aprile, Caterina Fontanella, Eufemia Stefania Lutrino, Laura Ferrari, Mariaelena Casagrande, Giovanni Gerardo Cardellino, Gianpiero Fasola, Department of Oncology, University and General Hospital, 33100 Udine, Italy
Gerardo Rosati, Medical Oncology Unit, San Carlo Hospital, 85100 Potenza, Italy
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the intellectual conception of the manuscript and approved the final version of the present manuscript; Fontanella C, Lutrino ES, Ferrari L, Casagrande M, and Cardellino GG performed extensive literature search and drafted the article; Aprile G, Rosati G and Fasola G revised the manuscript critically.
Correspondence to: Giuseppe Aprile, MD, Department of Oncology, University and General Hospital, Piazzale S Maria della Misericordia 1, 33100 Udine, Italy. aprile.giuseppe@aoud.sanita.fvg.it
Telephone: +39-432-559308 Fax:+39-432-559305
Received: March 9, 2013
Revised: April 12, 2013
Accepted: April 13, 2013
Published online: April 14, 2013
Revised: April 12, 2013
Accepted: April 13, 2013
Published online: April 14, 2013
Core Tip
Core tip: Although promising, limited evidence supports the use of antiangiogenic drugs to treat elderly colorectal cancer patients, that also may have increased toxicities compared to younger subjects. However, advanced age per-se should not discourage the use of these drugs. Since older patients constitute a heterogeneous population in terms of overall health status and comorbid conditions, a careful patients’ selection and a watchful monitoring of potential treatment-related side effects are recommended to optimize the use of angiogenesis inhibitors in this population.