Download Abstract - PhRMA Foundation

Jennifer Lund, PhD, MPSH
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
“Evaluating heterogeneity of cancer treatment benefits among older adults”
The majority of patients diagnosed with colon cancer are over 65 years old, and this number is
expected to grow over the coming years. At colon cancer diagnosis, older adults have more
chronic conditions and functional disabilities than younger patients, which can complicate their
cancer treatment decision-making. Unfortunately, older colon cancer patients tend to be
underrepresented in clinical trials, therefore little is known about which cancer treatments are
most effective and safe for this complex patient population. This study will use a large dataset
from the National Cancer Institute that collects information about older Medicare beneficiaries
diagnosed with cancer across the United States. This research study of over 5,000 colon cancer
patients diagnosed over the age of 65 years old will describe trends in the use of two approved
chemotherapy treatments and compare whether a newer treatment is better at extending
survival and preventing adverse treatment events than an older treatment, both overall and
within smaller groups of patients who are similar with respect to their chronic condition and
functional disability profile. Results from this research study will provide older colon cancer
patients and their physicians with information about the benefits and harms of the two
available chemotherapy treatments that can be used to make personalized decisions about
colon cancer treatment.