New Developments in the Adjuvant Therapy of Stage II Colon Cancer Risk Assessments in the Older Patient

摘要

While adjuvant chemotherapy has proven benefit in stage III colon cancer, its role for stage II colon cancer remains unclear. This article reviews data regarding adjuvant therapy in stage II colon cancer. We will discuss factors to consider in assessing the risk of recurrence in stage II disease. We will also outline considerations regarding adjuvant therapy in older patients.Colon cancer is estimated to have accounted for 106,100 new cancer cases and 49,920 cancer-related deaths in 2009.[1] Over half of these new diagnoses and deaths occur in individuals age 70 and older. [2] The probability of developing colon cancer increases with advancing age from less than 1 % in the first 4 decades of life to nearly 5% in the seventh decade of life [2]. Nearly 40% of these older individuals are diagnosed with stage II disease [2]. While the overall 5-year survival rate for individuals 75 and older is 67% for all stages of colon cancer, survival of those aged 70 to 79 diagnosed with stage II (T3 or T4, NO, M0) colon cancer is 77% (low-grade disease) or 70% (high-grade disease).