Association of age with treatment-related adverse events and survival among patients with metastatic colorectal cancer

While the incidence of early-onset metastatic colorectal cancer (diagnosis before age 50 years) is increasing, studies on the age-related disparities in mCRC are limited. In a cohort study of 1223 patients with mCRC from 3 clinical trials, early-onset mCRC had significantly worse survival and displayed unique patterns of treatment-related adverse events, when compared with older mCRC patients. Analysis in a separate Moffitt Cancer Center cohort of 736 patients also noted worse overall survival in early-onset mCRC and showed distinct genomic profiles in this population, which may partially explain the disparity. The authors conclude that these findings might have utility for an individualized approach to chemotherapy, counseling, and management of treatment-related adverse events in patients with early-onset mCRC.