Effect of Geriatric Intervention in Frail Elderly Patients Receiving Chemotherapy for Colorectal Cancer

Effect of Geriatric Intervention in Frail Elderly Patients Receiving Chemotherapy for Colorectal Cancer

GERICO is a randomized, controlled prospective trial. The aim is to investigate if frail, elderly patients with stage II-IV colorectal cancer, will profit from full comprehensive geriatric assessment and intervention before and during treatment with chemotherapy.

The hypotheses are: Optimizing the health conditions and functional status of frail elderly patients who suffers from stage II-IV colorectal cancer, with geriatric intervention will lead to a higher grade of completing the planned chemotherapy and at higher dose intensity. This will also result in a higher overall survival and improve quality of life.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Frail according to the screening tool G8 ( ≤14 / 17points)
• Performance status 0-2 and life expectancy ≥ 3 months
• Patients who have undergone surgery for stage III / high-risk stage II colorectal cancer or patients with unresectable or metastatic disease
• Are assessed to receive adjuvant chemotherapy or first -line chemotherapy
• Meets the criteria to receive preventive chemotherapy with 5-FU or capecitabine +/- oxaliplatin or first -line chemotherapy with 5-FU / irinotecan and / or oxaliplatin , capecitabine +/- possibly with the addition of immunotherapy in the form of cetuximab , panitumumab or bevacizumab.
• Informed written and oral consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Other malignancy except basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma in situ cervicis uteri in 5 years
• Patients in simultaneously drug trials
• The patient must not have previously received adjuvant chemotherapy in the GERICO Protocol