A Comparative Analysis of the Efficacy and Safety of Cisplatin and Oxaliplatin-Based Chemotherapy Regimens İn Elderly Patients With Metastatic Gastric Cancer

Abstract

Gastric cancer is a common type of cancer. While surgical treatment is considered the standard approach in early stages, there is currently no standard chemotherapy regimen for advanced and metastatic stages. The incidence of gastric cancer increases with age, making treatment more challenging. The choice of chemotherapy becomes more important in the elderly due to comorbidities, drug interactions and drug side effects. In our study, we investigated the efficacy and side effects of treatments applied to elderly patients. For our study, patients with recurrent or metastatic gastric cancer who were treated and followed up at Van Yuzuncu Yil University Medical Faculty Hospital between January 2008 and January 2024 were evaluated. Medical records were collected including patient demographics, treatment regimens and responses, grade 3-4 toxicities, date of progression, last follow-up and death. Performance score was assessed according to the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) criteria. The mean age of the patients was 73 years. The most common site of tumour occurrence was the gastric cardia. There were more male patients and the treatment responses were similar. However, there were notable differences in the incidence and severity of side effects. The survival data were comparable. Oxaliplatin and cisplatin-based chemotherapies have comparable effects in advanced gastric cancer in the elderly. However, the incidence of adverse effects differs, and cisplatin should be avoided in patients with nephrotoxicity. The number of patients is insufficient to draw definitive conclusions and further studies are needed. © 2025, Yuzuncu Yil Universitesi Tip Fakultesi. All rights reserved.