Abstract
This article dealt with extremely aged (about 90 years old) patients (2 males and 8 females) with oral or salivary gland malignancies which were treated in our clinic during the last 10 years. The following results were obtained in clinico-immunologic studies comparing these patients with younger cancer patients and healthy individuals.
1. Histologically, 7 tumors were squamous cell carcinoma which originated from the gingiva except for one case, 2 were of salivary gland origin, and one was malignant lymphoma. Out of the 9 carcinomas, 5 were in stage W.
2. Most patients originally had multiple complications and disabilities.
3. Compared to younger patients and healthy controls, significant decreases of Leu 8+ T cells, lymphocyte blastogenesis, NK activity, and a significant increase of CD 16+ CD 57+ cells were observed, while LAK activity and O-2 generation of neutrophils were not suppressed.
4. Six patients received radical treatment, and four received non-radical treatment. All tumors were locally controlled, while metastatic lymph nodes became uncontrollable in one of the 3 N (+) cases.
5. Except for one case, adverse effects such as bone marrow suppression and stomatitis were observed. Among these effects, decreases is white blood cells and cholinesterase persisted even after discharge.
These results indicate the importance of considering both psychological and physiological conditions unique to highly aged patients when deciding therapy principles for them. Moreover, local treatment such as radiation and surgical excision avoiding impairment of the patient's quality of life is advantageous for extremely aged patients
