Research priorities in geriatric oncology for 2013 and beyond

Supriya Mohile1, William Dale2, Allison Magnuson1

  • 1James Wilmot Cancer Center, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, US.

Cancer Forum
|October 28, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Research on cancer treatment for older adults is urgently needed. Establishing geriatric oncology research priorities will improve treatment outcomes and reduce complications for aging cancer patients.

Area of Science:

  • Geriatric Oncology
  • Cancer Research
  • Aging and Health

Background:

  • Cancer incidence rises with age, yet evidence on treatment safety and efficacy in older adults is limited.
  • Identifying older patients who benefit most from cancer treatment without severe toxicities remains a challenge.
  • There is a critical need for interventions to manage symptoms and long-term complications of cancer and its treatment in the elderly population.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight key research priorities in geriatric oncology.
  • To address knowledge gaps identified in previous U13 grant-funded conferences.
  • To guide future research efforts in improving outcomes for older cancer patients.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on geriatric oncology.
  • Synthesis of findings and recommendations from linked U13 conferences held in 2010 and 2012.
  • Identification of critical research gaps and future directions.

Main Results:

  • Significant gaps exist in understanding cancer treatment benefits and toxicities in older adults.
  • Prioritizing research in geriatric oncology is essential for advancing care.
  • The rapid aging of the global population underscores the urgency for more evidence-based geriatric oncology.

Conclusions:

  • Establishing clear research priorities in geriatric oncology is crucial.
  • Further research is imperative to optimize cancer treatment for the growing elderly population.
  • Addressing the unique needs of older cancer patients will improve their quality of life and survival outcomes.

Related Concept Videos

Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age01:27

Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age

Age-related pharmacokinetic changes are extensively documented, but understanding age-related pharmacodynamic alterations is relatively limited. This knowledge gap can be partly attributed to the complexity of developing appropriate measures of drug responses compared to bioanalytical methods for determining drug concentrations.Most information regarding age-related differences in human pharmacodynamics originates from cross-sectional studies. However, these studies assume that observed mean...
351
Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients01:15

Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients

Elderly individuals encompass a diverse population with varying degrees of age-related physiological changes. Defining the elderly presents challenges, as the geriatric population is often arbitrarily categorized as individuals older than 65. However, many individuals in this group lead active and healthy lives, with an increasing number surpassing 85 years and falling into the older elderly category. Physiological changes associated with aging impact performance capacity and homeostatic...
387
Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Distribution01:00

Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the human body is influenced by several factors, including plasma protein concentration, body composition, blood flow, tissue-protein concentration, and tissue fluid pH. Among these, changes in plasma protein concentration and body composition due to aging significantly affect how drugs are distributed within the body. Specifically, aging is associated with a decrease in albumin levels by about 10% and an increase in α1-acid glycoprotein levels. These alterations are...
369
Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Metabolism01:18

Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Metabolism

Geriatric patients show significant variation in how their bodies process medications, which can change how effective and safe treatments are. The liver is the primary organ where drug metabolism occurs, involving two main types of chemical reactions: phase I and II. Phase I metabolism is driven by the cytochrome P450 enzyme system, which includes key types such as CYP3A, CYP2D6, and CYP2C9. Research indicates that while aging doesn't notably alter the levels or activity of these enzymes, it...
377
Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Excretion01:18

Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Excretion

In geriatric patients, renal physiology undergoes significant changes, including diminished renal blood flow and a lower glomerular filtration rate (GFR), leading to alterations in medication clearance. Drugs such as aminoglycoside antibiotics, lithium, and digoxin, which rely on glomerular filtration for removal from the body, particularly impact pharmacokinetics. These drugs tend to have slower clearance rates in older adults, necessitating careful dosage considerations.Evaluation of renal...
346
Treatment Resistant Cancers02:56

Treatment Resistant Cancers

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. A cancer cell is genetically unstable and hence can mutate faster. They can also modify their microenvironment and escape immune surveillance. The difficulties in treating cancer are further compounded by the emergence of rapid resistance to anticancer drugs. The most common ways to attain resistance in cancer cells include alteration in drug transport and metabolism, modification of drug target, elevated DNA damage response, or...
2.6K