[Chemotherapy in the elderly].

The incidence of cancer is age-related and increases rapidly. The age itself is not a contraindication for chemotherapy. Essential is the evaluation of comorbidity and the functional status of the elderly. Due to the physiologic decline in renal function and hepatic drug metabolism with age, the doses of chemotherapeutic agents should be adapted in the elderly. The elderly remain underrepresented in clinical trials. In the absence of comprehensive data on treatment in the elderly, it can be expected that response rates and toxicity to chemotherapy will be the same as in younger patients.