BACKGROUND: Due to demographic changes, the number of elderly people with cancer will increase in the next decades. In the past, elderly patients with cancer were often excluded from clinical trials. Chronological age has been considered a risk factor for increased toxicity and reduced tolerance to chemotherapy. METHODS: We present a review on toxicity of chemotherapy and factors associated with toxicity in elderly patients with cancer, and we discuss chemotherapeutic agents and treatment options in treating this patient population. RESULTS: Age is a risk factor for increased toxicity to chemotherapy and decreased tolerance. However, few trials have been reported with adjustment for age-associated changes such as impairment of functional status and increased comorbidity, which also show an independent association with increased toxicity. Published data may include several biases, such as referral and publication bias. CONCLUSIONS: Decision making in elderly cancer patients should be based on the results of a geriatric assessment. Patients with few or no limitations should be treated as younger patients are treated. Data with a high level of evidence are unavailable for patients showing moderate or severe limitations in a geriatric assessment.
BACKGROUND: Due to demographic changes, the number of elderly people with cancer will increase in the next decades. In the past, elderly patients with cancer were often excluded from clinical trials. Chronological age has been considered a risk factor for increased toxicity and reduced tolerance to chemotherapy. METHODS: We present a review on toxicity of chemotherapy and factors associated with toxicity in elderly patients with cancer, and we discuss chemotherapeutic agents and treatment options in treating this patient population. RESULTS: Age is a risk factor for increased toxicity to chemotherapy and decreased tolerance. However, few trials have been reported with adjustment for age-associated changes such as impairment of functional status and increased comorbidity, which also show an independent association with increased toxicity. Published data may include several biases, such as referral and publication bias. CONCLUSIONS: Decision making in elderly cancerpatients should be based on the results of a geriatric assessment. Patients with few or no limitations should be treated as younger patients are treated. Data with a high level of evidence are unavailable for patients showing moderate or severe limitations in a geriatric assessment.
Authors: Arti Hurria; Ilene S Browner; Harvey Jay Cohen; Crystal S Denlinger; Mollie deShazo; Martine Extermann; Apar Kishor P Ganti; Jimmie C Holland; Holly M Holmes; Mohana B Karlekar; Nancy L Keating; June McKoy; Bruno C Medeiros; Ewa Mrozek; Tracey O'Connor; Stephen H Petersdorf; Hope S Rugo; Rebecca A Silliman; William P Tew; Louise C Walter; Alva B Weir; Tanya Wildes Journal: J Natl Compr Canc Netw Date: 2012-02 Impact factor: 11.908
Authors: Mark Zaki; Michael Dominello; Gregory Dyson; Shirish Gadgeel; Antoinette Wozniak; Steven Miller; Peter Paximadis Journal: Clin Lung Cancer Date: 2016-07-22 Impact factor: 4.785
Authors: Maria De Santis; Joaquim Bellmunt; Graham Mead; J Martijn Kerst; Michael Leahy; Pablo Maroto; Iwona Skoneczna; Sandrine Marreaud; Ronald de Wit; Richard Sylvester Journal: J Clin Oncol Date: 2009-09-28 Impact factor: 44.544
Authors: Stefan Hoschek; Ursula Hoschek-Risslegger; Michael Fiegl; August Zabernigg; Georg Pall; Thomas Auberger; Eberhard Gunsilius; Thomas Schmid; Herbert Jamnig; Wolfgang Hilbe Journal: Wien Klin Wochenschr Date: 2007 Impact factor: 1.704