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Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Therapeutic Massage for Psychological Well-being in Geriatric Oncology
Published on: May 22, 2026
Do symptoms matter when considering patients for phase I clinical trials?: a pilot study of older adults with
Jennifer M Healy1, Taral Patel, Shuko Lee
1Department Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, Gerontology, and Palliative Care, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, USA. Healyj@uthscsa.edu
Background:
Older adults (OA) with advanced cancer (AC) undergoing phase I clinical trials (PICT) have poor prognosis. There are no studies which describe symptoms experienced by OA.
Methods:
Retrospective chart review of PICT participants >60 years. OA were compared by age (>65 vs 60-65) and by number of symptoms (>3 vs ≤3).
Results:
N = 56. Mean age = 67.09; 48.21% female. Median life-expectancy = 5 months (interquartile range = 2-9 months); 80.36% had pain; of those 64% without pain scale. Most did not have interdisciplinary professionals or hospice referrals. Older adults with >3 symptoms had more admissions (37.5% vs 14.29%; P = .0335), complications (46.43% vs 16.07%; P = .0026), and greater decline in functional status (24 participants >3 symptoms vs 8; P = .0173). There were no significant differences comparing OA by age.
Conclusions:
Older adults enrolled in PICT with more symptoms may sacrifice QOL for experimental treatment.
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