Clinical outcomes of targeted therapies in elderly patients aged ≥ 80 years with metastatic colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND The 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy combined with oxaliplatin or irinotecan is usually used in colorectal cancer(CRC).The addition of a targeted agent(TA) to this combination chemotherapy is currently the standard treatment for metastatic CRC.However,the efficacy and safety of combination chemotherapy for metastatic CRC in patients aged above 80 years has yet to be established.AIM To assess the clinical outcomes and feasibility of combination chemotherapy using a TA in extremely elderly patients with CRC.METHODS Eligibility criteria were:(1) Age above 80 years;(2) Metastatic colorectal cancer;(3) Palliative chemotherapy na?ve;(4) Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0-1;and(5) Adequate organ function.Patients received at least one dose of combination chemotherapy with or without TA.Response was evaluated every 8 wk.RESULTS Of 30 patients,the median age of 15 patients treated with TA was 83.0 years and that of those without TA was 81.3 years.The median progression-free survival(PFS) and overall survival(OS) in patients treated with TA were 7.4 mo and 15.4 mo,respectively,compared with 4.4 mo and 15.6 mo,respectively,in patients treated without TA.There was no significant difference in PFS(P:0.193) and OS(P:0.748) between patients treated with and without TA.Common grade 3/4 hematologic toxicities were anemia(16.7%) and neutropenia(10.0%).After disease progression,the median OS of patients who were treated with and without salvage chemotherapy were 23.5 mo and 7.0 mo,respectively,suggesting significant difference in OS(P = 0.001).CONCLUSION Combination chemotherapy with TA for metastatic CRC may be considered feasible in patients aged above 80 years,when with careful caution.Salvage chemotherapy can help improve OS in some selected of these elderly patients.

Primary central nervous system lymphoma presenting as a single choroidal lesion mimicking metastasis:A case report

BACKGROUND Primary choroidal lymphoma is usually an indolent B-cell lymphoma and rarely progresses to extraocular sites.Herein,we report a case of primary choroidal lymphoma diagnosed as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma(DLBL),which progressed to the brain parenchyma after 4 mo.CASE SUMMARY A 78-year-old man presented with diminution of vision in his right eye.A choroidal lesion suspected of metastatic lesion was observed in the right eye by ophthalmologic examination.To discover the primary tumor,imaging investigations were performed but no malignant lesion was detected.After 4 mo,the patient returned to the clinic presenting with neurological symptoms.Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed an abnormal contrast-enhancing mass in the left cerebellum.A stereotactic biopsy was performed,and DLBL was confirmed.The patient received the high dose methotrexate-based chemotherapy and he achieved complete remission.CONCLUSION Primary choroidal lymphoma is usually known to have a benign clinical course without systemic involvement.We present a rare case of primary choroidal lymphoma diagnosed as DLBL that progressed to the brain parenchyma within months.