Folfirinox in elderly patients with pancreatic or colorectal cancer-tolerance and efficacy

{AIM To study the tolerance and the efficiency of FOLFIRINOX in elderly patients diagnosed with colorectal or pancreatic cancer. METHODS This retrospective study included elderly patients aged over 70 years of age treated at Georges-Francois Leclerc Center by FOLFIRINOX for histological proved colorectal or pancreatic cancer between January 2009 and January 2015. Chemotheapy regimen consisted of oxaliplatin (85 mg/m(2) in over 120 min) followed by leucovorin (400 mg/m(2) in over 120 min), with the addition, after 30 min of irinotecan (180 mg/m(2) in over 90 min) then 5 fluorouracil (5FU) (400 mg/m(2) administred intravenous bolus), followed by 5FU (2400 mg/m2 intraveinous infusion over 46 h) repeated every 2 wk. Geriatric parameters were recorded at the beginning. Toxicities were evaluated with the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events 4.03. Tumor response was evaluated by CT scan. Treatment continued until disease progression, unacceptable toxicities or patient refusal. RESULTS Fifty-two patients aged from 70 to 87 years were treated by FOLFIRINOX, 34 had colorectal cancer and 18 had pancreatic cancer. Most of them were in good general condition, 82.7% had a 0-1 performance status and 61.5% had a Charlson Comorbidity Index < 10. The most frequent severe toxicities were neutropenia (17 patients