Termination of Palliative Chemotherapy Near the End of Life: A Retrospective Study of Gastrointestinal Cancer Patients

BACKGROUND: Palliative chemotherapy is commonly used for advanced cancer patients. The timing of chemotherapy termination is crucial for efforts to maintain quality of life. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included gastrointestinal cancer patients who were treated with chemotherapy and died between 2013 and 2022 at Niigata University Medical and Dental Hospital. Data were reviewed regarding age, gender, cancer type, reason for chemotherapy termination, cause of death, survival after chemotherapy termination, and place of death. RESULTS: In total, 388 patients were included; the median survival after chemotherapy was 73 days. Patients aged <67 years had shorter survival durations (59 days), compared with patients aged >67 years (82 days). Ten (2.6%) patients began a new chemotherapy regimen, whereas 17 (4.4%) patients received chemotherapy, within 4 weeks before death. The most common reason for chemotherapy termination was disease progression, and most deaths occurred in hospitals. CONCLUSION: The rates of chemotherapy and initiation of new chemotherapeutic regimens near the end of life were lower than previously reported. Most deaths occurred in hospitals, highlighting the need for development of hospices.