[Cancer in elderly]

Population ageing in developed countries associated with increasing cancer incidence in higher age categories becomes a serious challenge in oncology nowadays.

To review the present policy of management of senior cancer patients and to outline strategies of its improvement. Elderly patients are generally undertreated if we address current treatment standards. The elderly population is heterogenous in terms of functional status, physical and psychical impairment, comorbidities, functional reserve, socioeconomic backgroud and geriatric symptoms. There is a lack of consensus on guidelines for elderly population due to under-representation of older patients in clinical trials. Geriatric assessments could be a useful tool for medical decision making and adjusting treatment plan for a certain group of patients - those suitable for standard treatment, vulnerable group - advisable to treatment reduction, and frail patients - indicated for paliative approach. However, studies confirming effectiveness of this age-specific approach in comparison with routine clinical practice remain to be conducted.

Clinical studies focused on senior cancer patients are urgently needed.