[Experience in treating elderly patients with disseminated stomach and colon cancer]. / Opyt lecheniia pozhilykh bol'nykh disseminirovannym rakom zheludka i tol'stoi kishki.

Colorectal and gastric cancer in usually diagnosed in elderly patients. In metastatic disease systemic chemotherapy has been shown to be of clinical benefit for patients in term of prolongation of survival, symptomatic improvement and quality of life. Compared to its younger counterparts 5-FU-based treatment appears to be equally effective and more toxic according to some reports. Data regarding raltitrexed, oral fluoropyprimidines, Campto or oxaliplatin are limited but suggest no age-specific differences in activity or toxicity. Our experience of using chemotherapy with 5-FU-based combinations, oxaliplatin, Campto, raltitrexed in limited groups of elderly patients confirms this opinion.

[Irinotecan and tomudex in the treatment of patients with advanced cancer of the large intestine]. / Irinotekan i tomudeks v lechenii bol'nykh rasprostranennym rakom tolstoi kishki.

The data on the treatment of 82 patients with advanced colorektal carcinoma are presented. Tomudex was given as first-line treatment to 18 cases. Apparent response was reported in 31% including complete (6%) and partial (25%) regression. Tumor growth control (apparent response + stabilization) was registered in 62%. Median survival rate was 38.4 weeks. Neutropenia, diarrhea and hepatotoxicity formation limited the modality. The treatment can be recommended for out-patients thanks to good tolerability and practical convenience. The following regimens of irinotecan were employed as first- and second-line chemotherapy (64): 250-350 mg/sq.m, every three weeks (44) and 100-125 mg/sq.m/week, x 4 every 6 weeks (20). Response was 15 and 16%, tumor growth control--60 and 63%, median survival--41.6 and 51.6% weeks, respectively. Leuko- and neutropenia and diarrhea development limited both regimens. Weekly infusions seemed to offer more advantage for out-patient treatment, particularly, in feeble patients and those who are a high risk for grave side-effects. Tomudex and irinotecan toxicity was predictable, moderate, reversible and non-cumulative.