Survival Analysis of Capecitabine Maintenance Therapy in Elderly Patients with Advanced Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Objective To evaluate the effi cacy and toxicity of capecitabine maintenance therapy in elderly patients with advanced metastatic colorectal cancer. Methods From August 1st, 2007 to August 1st,2011, after they had achieved clinical response (CR+PR+SD) from fi rst-1ine chemotherapy, elderly patients with advanced metastatic colorectal cancer in the fi rst affi liated hospital of liaoning medical university received two different treatment strategies, according to the patient's own intention. The treatment group (30 cases ) were treated with capecitabine maintenance therapy of capecitabine 1 000 mg/m2 po bid dl-14,q21d.The control group (48 cases) did not receive any further chemotherapy until disease progression.TTP and overall survival time of two groups, and the toxicity of the maintenance group were observed. Results The median time to progression was 10.3 months vs. 6.5 months (P = 0.000231), the median overall survival were 31.4 months vs. 18.4 months (P = 0.000319), of patients in maintenance therapy group and control group, respectively. The differences between them were statistically signifi cant. The major side effects in maintenance therapy group were hand-foot syndrome, digestive tract reaction, hematology toxicity, mild impairment of liver and kidney' s function. Conclusion Capecitabine maintenance therapy could benefi t the elderly patients with advanced metastatic colorectal cancer by extending time to progression and overall survival, and is generally well tolerated, worthy of enlarging the sample for further research.