Abstract
Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic factors of elderly patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer (mPC).
Methods: Patients diagnosed with mPC between2004 and2014 were identified from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database. Clinical characteristics and prognostic factors in elderly patients with mPC were examined.
Results: A total of 10784 mPC patients between 65 and 80 years old were included and divided into three age groups. Elderly mPC patients differed from younger patients in many aspects, including marital status, race, gender, T stage, N stage, treatment regimen, prognosis, cause of death, and metastatic characteristics (p<0.001). An analysis of the prognostic factors showed that chemotherapy, as the main treatment for the elderly, can significantly improve their prognosis, while surgery can improve the prognosis of patients between 65 and 80 years old. Other factors, including gender, marital status, T stage, and site of metastasis, had different effects on patients in different age groups.
Conclusion: Elderly patients with mPC are a special group of individuals whose clinical characteristics and prognostic factors are different from those of younger patients and require special treatment and attention.
Clinical features and prognostic factors of elderly patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer: a population-based study
