Age-related organ function changes relevant to colorectal cancer treatment

Organ system	Age-related change	Potential CRC relevance
Bone Marrow	↓ Cellularity and reserve	↑ Risk of leukopenia: dose reduction and growth factor often needed
Liver	↓ Parenchymal volume	Less able to tolerate oxaliplatin steatohepatitis, metastasectomy
Kidney	↓ Glomerular filtration rate	↑ Risk of prerenal azotemia
Cardiovascular	↑ CAD, valvular disease, HTN	Fluoropyrimidine coronary vasospasm Greater risk from bevacizumab-related hypertension and arterial thromboembolism
Central nervous system	↓ Cerebral perfusion ↑ Autonomic disturbance	5-FU-associated cerebellar toxicity, with greater effect on balance, gait

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