Does Oxaliplatin-based Adjuvant Therapy Benefit Older Colorectal Cancer Patients?

Although treatment with 5-FU, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) or capecitabine and oxaliplatin (CAPEOX) is considered the standard for stage III colon cancer, the benefit of these treatment regimens in older patients is uncertain. One of the complicating factors in recommending treatment options for elderly colorectal cancer patients is the fact that while guidelines recommend adjuvant chemotherapy, specific recommendations for elderly patients remain inconsistent. Hence, one of the most urgent and fundamental clinical questions remains whether elderly patients should receive oxaliplatin as part of their treatment regimen.