Advancing Treatment Approach to the Older Patient with Cancer Through Clinical Trials Participation

The aging of the population worldwide brings a “Tsunami” of older patients to oncology practices. Oncologists are faced with determining the fitness of patients for therapy and tailoring appropriate therapy. Ongoing treatment of this patient population is challenging because of physiologic changes of aging, comorbidities, and various geriatric syndromes. Underrepresentation of older patients in clinical trials results in a gap in knowledge and lack of clear evidence to guide treatment approach. In recent years, some advancements have been made with publication of elderly specific studies. However, much remains to be done by the oncologic community to continue and invest in these research efforts and expand the knowledge base in this arena.