Objective  To observe the clinical effect of capecitabine in the treatment of advanced metastatic colorectal cancer in the elderly patients.

  Methods  A total of 112 patients with advanced metastatic colorectal cancer enrolled in our hospital were included in the study. After the first-line FOLFOX/XELOX regimen was benefited, they were randomly divided into control group and treatment group. The control group was followed up for observation, and the treatment group was treated with capecitabine to maintain chemotherapy. The therapeutic effects of the two groups were observed.

  Results  The total disease control rate was 46.4% in the treatment group, and 26.7% in the control group. Progression free survival(PFS) time and overall survival were 5.5 and 18.9 months, respectively, in the treatment group, and 3.6 and 7.8 months, respectively, in the control group, there were statistically significant differences between the two groups (P < 0.05). Adverse reactions in the treatment group mainly included nausea, vomiting, hand-foot syndrome, etc, and were alleviated after symptomatic treatment.

  Conclusion  Capecitabine maintenance therapy has better long-term effect for elderly patients with advanced metastatic colorectal cancer after first-line chemotherapy, which can prolong the survival time, and alleviate the adverse reactions.