ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: To study the clinico-pathological features, treatments and outcomes of gastric carcinoma (GC) in the elderly (⩾65 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.
