Provisional Clinical Opinions for Radiation Therapy in Prefrail Elderly Colorectal Cancer Patients: Part Two

The number of elderly cancer patients has been increasing for the past several decades in Japan. The selection of appropriate treatment for elderly patients with cancer is sometimes difficult because of their diverse characteristics and individual differences. In particular, for prefrail cancer patients, who are between fit and frail, the experience of medical staff affects the selection of treatment. Therefore, 10 clinical questions (CQs) have been suggested as provisional clinical opinions for radiotherapy in prefrail elderly colorectal cancer patients by the Radiation Therapy Working Group, comprising seven radiation oncologists, one gastroenterologist, and one gastroenterological surgeon. The present report examines CQ 6－10 as follows, along with the appendix. CQ6: “Is it necessary to perform preoperative chemoradiotherapy in prefrail elderly patients with resectable locally advanced rectal cancer?”; CQ7: “Is it recommended to perform chemoradiotherapy for prefrail elderly rectal cancer patients with non-resectable pelvic recurrence after surgery?”; CQ8: “What is the indication for palliative radiotherapy in prefrail elderly colorectal cancer patients with pelvic recurrence after surgery?”; CQ9: “What is the indication for radiotherapy in prefrail elderly colorectal cancer patients with liver metastasis?” and CQ10: “What is the indication for radiotherapy in prefrail elderly colorectal cancer patients with lung metastasis?”