Management Complexity of Elderly Cancer Patients: the Potential of Radiation Oncology

Abstract

Background: Age-related physiological changes, various comorbidities, and higher treatment toxicity make elderly cancer patients distinctive. Radiation therapy is important in curative and palliative contexts, although its effects on clinical outcomes need greater study.

Methods: This retrospective analysis examined 160 elderly cancer patients (?60 years) who received radiation therapy at PMCH from April 2022 to March 2024. Assessments included patient demographics, cancer kind, disease stage, treatment intent, radiation procedures, toxicity profiles, and clinical results. OS and PFS were analyzed by illness stage, performance status, and radiation modality.

Results: Patients had a mean age of 68.4 ± 5.7 years, with 58.7% men and 41.3% females. The most prevalent cancers were head and neck (30%), lung (20%), and gastrointestinal (17.5%). In 61.3% of instances, radiation therapy was curative and in 38.7% palliative. Advanced methods like IMRT and SBRT enhanced response rates and reduced toxicity. Curative cases had an ORR of 81.6%, a median OS of 24.8 months, and a median PFS of 15.2 months. Acute toxicity (Grade 3–4) was 30% and late toxicity was 16.3%. Advanced-stage illness and many comorbidities were linked to poor prognosis (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Radiation therapy is an effective treatment modality in elderly cancer patients, providing significant survival benefits and symptom relief. Advanced radiation techniques improve outcomes while minimizing toxicity. A personalized, multidisciplinary approach is essential for optimizing treatment in this vulnerable population.

Keywords: Elderly cancer patients, radiation therapy, survival outcomes, treatment toxicity