Abstract
A considerable knowledge has been collected in the last 20 years through retrospective and prospective trials on the medical management of cancer in older patients. Today a better approach to prevention and treatment of chemotherapy-related complications in older patients is provided by specific guide-lines.
In this review, a synthetic information on the medical treatment specifically required by patients with age associated conditions for the most common tumor types (breast, non-small-cell lung prostate, colrectal cancer, and aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma) is presented.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Jemal A, Siegel R, Ward E et al (2008) Cancer statistics. CA Cancer J Clin 58:71–96
Balducci L, Yates J (2000) General guidelines for the management of older patients with cancer. Oncology 14(11A):221–227
Monfardini S (2009) Can we better manage unfit older cancer patients? Cancer Treat Rev 35:485–486
Brunello A, Loaldi E, Calducci L (2009) Dose adjustment and supportive care before and during treatment. Cancer Treat Rev 35:493–498
Body JJ, Coleman R, Clezardin P, Ripamonti C, Rizzoli R, Aapro M (2007) International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG) clinical practice recommendations for the use of bisphosphonates in elderly patients. Eur J Cancer 43:852–858
Monfardini S, Gridelli C, Pasetto LM, Soubeyran P, Droz J-P, Basso U (2008) Vulnerable and frail elderly: an approach to the management of the main tumour types. Eur J Cancer 44:488–493
Aapro M, Monfardini S, Jirillo A, Basso U (2009) Management of primary and advanced breast cancer in older unfit patients (medical treatment). Cancer Treat Rev 35:503–508
Gridelli C (2001) The ELVIS trial: a phase III study of single-agent vinorelbine as first-line treatment in elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Elderly Lung Cancer Vinorelbine Italian Study. Oncologist 6(Suppl 1):4–7
Gridelli C, Perrone F, Gallo C et al (2003) Chemotherapy for elderly patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: the Multicenter Italian Lung Cancer in the Elderly Study (MILES) phase III randomized trial. J Natl Cancer Inst 95(5):362–372
Pallis AG, Shepherd FA, Lacombe D, Gridelli C (2010) Treatment of small-cell lung cancer in elderly patients. Cancer 116(5):1192–1200
Falci C, Morello E, Droz JP (2009) Treatment of prostate cancer in unfit senior adult patients. Cancer Treat Rev 35(6):522–527
Thompson CA, Shanafelt TD, Loprinzi L (2003) Symptom management for prostate cancer patients treated with hormonal ablation. Oncologist 8:474–487
Bylow K, Mohile SG, Stadler WM, Dale W (2007) Does androgen-deprivation therapy accelerate the development of frailty in older men with prostate cancer? A conceptual review. Cancer 110(12):2604–2613
Sargent DJ, Goldberg R, Jacobson S et al (2001) A pooled analysis of adjuvant chemotherapy for resected colon cancer in elderly patients. N Engl J Med 345:1091–1097
Haller DG, Tabernero J, Maroun J et al (2011) Capecitabine plus oxaliplatin compared with fluorouracil and folinic acid as adjuvant therapy for stage III colon cancer. J Clin Oncol 29(11):1465–1471
Aschele C, Bergamo F, Lonardi S (2009) Chemotherapy for operable and advanced colorectal cancer. Cancer Treat Rev 35:509–516
Soubeyran P, Mertens C, Bellera C, Mathoulin-Pélissier C, Rainfray M (2009) Management of unfit patients with unfavourable non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas. Cancer Treat Rev 35:528–532
Monfardini S, Aapro M (2007) Cancer treatment in the elderly: the need for a better organization. Ann Oncol 18:1283–1284
Conflict of interest
None.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Monfardini, S., Falci, C., Brunello, A. et al. Cancer in the elderly. Intern Emerg Med 6 (Suppl 1), 115 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11739-011-0687-3
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11739-011-0687-3