Over-80s with colorectal cancer are far less likely to receive adjuvant chemotherapy than younger patients despite having similar oncological and post-resection outcomes, Australian doctors say.

Their review of nearly 750 patients showed that while octogenarians had poorer overall survival, their cancer-specific and recurrence-free survival rates were comparable to non-octogenarians.

“Our study demonstrates a survival benefit when adjuvant therapy is provided to octogenarians, despite only half of this cohort receiving therapy compared to their younger peers,” wrote the team from St John of God Subiaco Hospital in Perth.

They acknowledged that comorbidity, functional decline, and uncertainty over survival outcomes in over-80s could lead to treatment hesitancy, but said age alone “should not preclude” patients from being offered adjuvant chemotherapy.