Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-r7xzm Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-28T09:18:36.958Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Cancer in the older person

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 November 2008

Peter Stephens*
Affiliation:
Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Peter Stephens, Northern Centre for Cancer Care, Freeman Hospital, High Heaton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE7 7DN, UK. Email: Peter.stephens@nuth.nhs.uk

Extract

The challenges of treating malignant disease in the older population are gaining greater prominence. In the last 10 years the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) has established a task force to examine challenges of managing older cancer patients. As an indication of their importance, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) specifically addressed the issues raised by older patients at their annual conference in 2004.

Type
Clinical gerontology
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1Ries, L, Melbert, D, Krapcho, M, Stinchcomb, D, Howlader, N, Horner, M et al. SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1975–2005. National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA. 2008.Google Scholar
2Levi, F, Lucchini, F, Negri, E, La Vecchia, C. Continuing declines in cancer mortality in the European Union. Ann Oncol 2007; 18: 593–5.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3Levi, F, Lucchini, F, Negri, E, Boyle, P, La Vecchia, C. Changed trends of cancer mortality in the elderly. Ann Oncol 2001; 12: 1467–77.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4Chu, KC, Tarone, RE, Freeman, HP. Trends in prostate cancer mortality among black men and white men in the United States. Cancer 2003; 97: 1507–16.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5Oken, MM, Creech, RH, Tormey, DC, Horton, J, Davis, TE, McFadden, ET et al. Toxicity and response criteria of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group. Am J Clin Oncol 1982; 5: 649–55.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6Gridelli, C, Perrone, F, Gallo, C, De Marinis, F, Ianniello, G, Cigolari, S et al. Vinorelbine is well tolerated and active in the treatment of elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. A two-stage phase II study. Eur J Cancer 1997; 33: 392–7.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7Maione, P, Perrone, F, Gallo, C, Manzione, L, Piantedosi, F, Barbera, S et al. Pretreatment quality of life and functional status assessment significantly predict survival of elderly patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer receiving chemotherapy: a prognostic analysis of the multicenter Italian lung cancer in the elderly study. J Clin Oncol 2005; 23: 6865–72.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8Yamazaki, H, Inoue, T, Yoshida, K, Imai, A, Yoshioka, Y, Tanaka, E et al. Changes in performance status of elderly patients after radiotherapy. Radiat Med 2001; 19: 918.Google ScholarPubMed
9Lim, ST, Hee, SW, Quek, R, Tao, M. Performance status is the single most important prognostic factor in lymphoma patients aged greater than 75 overriding other prognostic factors such as histology. Leuk Lymphoma 2008; 49: 149–51.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10Repetto, L, Fratino, L, Audisio, RA, Venturino, A, Gianni, W, Vercelli, M et al. Comprehensive geriatric assessment adds information to Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status in elderly cancer patients: an Italian Group for Geriatric Oncology Study. J Clin Oncol 2002; 20: 494502.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11Hurria, A, Gupta, S, Zauderer, M, Zuckerman, EL, Cohen, HJ, Muss, H et al. Developing a cancer-specific geriatric assessment: a feasibility study. Cancer 2005; 104: 19982005.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12Terret, C, Albrand, G, Droz, JP. Multidimensional Geriatric Assessment reveals unknown medical problems in elderly cancer patients (pts). J Clin Oncol (meeting abstract) 2004; 22 (14_suppl): 8167.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
13Repetto, L, Venturino, A, Vercelli, M, Gianni, W, Biancardi, V, Casella, C et al. Performance status and comorbidity in elderly cancer patients compared with young patients with neoplasia and elderly patients without neoplastic conditions. Cancer 1998; 82: 760–5.3.0.CO;2-V>CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
14Hurria, A, Wong, FL, Villaluna, D, Bhatia, S, Chung, CT, Mortimer, J et al. Role of age and health in treatment recommendations for older adults with breast cancer: the perspective of oncologists and primary care providers. J Clin Oncol 2008; 26: 5386–92.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
15Krzyzanowska, MK, Earle, CC, Kuntz, KM, Weeks, JC. Using economic analysis to evaluate the potential of multimodality therapy for elderly patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2007; 67: 211–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
16Desch, CE, Hillner, BE, Smith, TJ, Retchin, SM. Should the elderly receive chemotherapy for node-negative breast cancer? A cost-effectiveness analysis examining total and active life-expectancy outcomes. J Clin Oncol 1993; 11: 777–82.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
17NICE. Trastuzumab for the adjuvant treatment of early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer. August 2006; NICE technology appraisal guidance, 107.Google Scholar
18Hornberger, JC, Best, JH. Cost utility in the United States of rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone for the treatment of elderly patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Cancer 2005; 103: 1644–51.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
19Crowe, JP Jr, Gordon, NH, Shenk, RR, Zollinger, RM Jr, Brumberg, DJ, Shuck, JM. Age does not predict breast cancer outcome. Arch Surg 1994; 129: 483–7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
20Busch, E, Kemeny, M, Fremgen, A, Osteen, RT, Winchester, DP, Clive, RE. Patterns of breast cancer care in the elderly. Cancer 1996; 78: 101–11.3.0.CO;2-3>CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
21Marszalek, M, Meixl, H, Polajnar, M, Rauchenwald, M, Jeschke, K, Madersbacher, S. Laparoscopic and open partial nephrectomy: a matched-pair comparison of 200 patients. Eur Urol 2009; 55: 1171–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
22Mirza, MS, Longman, RJ, Farrokhyar, F, Sheffield, JP, Kennedy, RH. Long-term outcomes for laparoscopic versus open resection of nonmetastatic colorectal cancer. J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A 2008; 18: 679–85.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
23Forbes, JF, Cuzick, J, Buzdar, A, Howell, A, Tobias, JS, Baum, M. Effect of anastrozole and tamoxifen as adjuvant treatment for early-stage breast cancer: 100-month analysis of the ATAC trial. Lancet Oncol 2008; 9: 4553.Google ScholarPubMed
24Mouridsen, H, Giobbie-Hurder, A, Mauriac, L, Paridaens, R, Colleoni, M, Thuerlimann, B et al. BIG 1–98: A randomized double-blind phase III study evaluating letrozole and tamoxifen given in sequence as adjuvant endocrine therapy for postmenopausal women with receptor-positive breast cancer. San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (meeting abstract). 2008; 11.12.08.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
25Begg, CB, Cohen, JL, Ellerton, J. Are the elderly predisposed to toxicity from cancer chemotherapy? An investigation using data from the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group. Cancer Clin Trials 1980; 3: 369–74.Google ScholarPubMed
26Tannock, IF, de Wit, R, Berry, WR, Horti, J, Pluzanska, A, Chi, KN et al. Docetaxel plus prednisone or mitoxantrone plus prednisone for advanced prostate cancer. N Engl J Med 2004; 351: 1502–12.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
27Gridelli, C. 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 2001; 6 suppl 1: 47.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
28Gridelli, C, Cigolari, S, Gallo, C, Manzione, L, Ianniello, GP, Frontini, L et al. Activity and toxicity of gemcitabine and gemcitabine + vinorelbine in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer elderly patients: Phase II data from the Multicenter Italian Lung Cancer in the Elderly Study (MILES) randomized trial. Lung Cancer 2001; 31: 277–84.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
29Wasil, T, Lichtman, SM, Gupta, V, Rush, S. Radiation therapy in cancer patients 80 years of age and older. Am J Clin Oncol 2000; 23: 526–30.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
30Jeremic, B, Milicic, B. From conventionally fractionated radiation therapy to hyperfractionated radiation therapy alone and with concurrent chemotherapy in patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer. Cancer 2008; 112: 876–84.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
31Harrison, L, Blackwell, K. Hypoxia and anemia: factors in decreased sensitivity to radiation therapy and chemotherapy? Oncologist 2004; 9 suppl 5: 3140.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
32Ludwig, H, Van Belle, S, Barrett-Lee, P, Birgegard, G, Bokemeyer, C, Gascon, P et al. The European Cancer Anaemia Survey (ECAS): a large, multinational, prospective survey defining the prevalence, incidence, and treatment of anaemia in cancer patients. Eur J Cancer 2004; 40: 2293–306.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
33Bokemeyer, C, Aapro, MS, Courdi, A, Foubert, J, Link, H, Osterborg, A et al. EORTC guidelines for the use of erythropoietic proteins in anaemic patients with cancer. Eur J Cancer 2004; 40: 2201–16.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
34Ozer, H, Armitage, JO, Bennett, CL, Crawford, J, Demetri, GD, Pizzo, PA et al. 2000 update of recommendations for the use of hematopoietic colony-stimulating factors: evidence-based, clinical practice guidelines. American Society of Clinical Oncology Growth Factors Expert Panel. J Clin Oncol 2000; 18: 3558–85.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
35Pagliuca, A, Carrington, PA, Pettengell, R, Tule, S, Keidan, J. Guidelines on the use of colony-stimulating factors in haematological malignancies. Br J Haematol 2003; 123: 2233.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
36Malcolm, JB, Bagrodia, A, Derweesh, IH, Mehrazin, R, Diblasio, CJ, Wake, RW et al. Comparison of rates and risk factors for developing chronic renal insufficiency, proteinuria and metabolic acidosis after radical or partial nephrectomy. BJU Int 2009, Feb 10.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
37Efstathiou, E, Logothetis, CJ. Review of late complications of treatment and late relapse in testicular cancer. J Natl Compr Canc Net 2006; 4: 1059–70.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
38Keefe, DL. Trastuzumab-associated cardiotoxicity. Cancer 2002; 95: 1592–600.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
39Seidman, A, Hudis, C, Pierri, MK, Shak, S, Paton, V, Ashby, M et al. Cardiac dysfunction in the trastuzumab clinical trials experience. J Clin Oncol 2002; 20: 1215–21.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
40NICE. Improving Outcomes with Children and Young People with Cancer. 24th August, 2005.Google Scholar