[Dose optimization of anticancer drugs in the elderly]

Age-related physiological changes affect pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in elderly individuals. Cancer treatment in the elderly requires a careful and multidisciplinary assessment of each patient prior to therapy initiation with respect to treatment decisions and dose optimization considerations, given the wide interpatient variability in this population. As renal function declines with age, renal function assessments are necessary when drugs increasing exposure in renal impairment will be administered to elderly patients. Serum creatinine is an insufficient marker for evaluating renal function in elderly patients because muscle mass decreases with age. Renal function should be assessed according to the index used for dosing recommendation at drug administration planning; in most of drugs, does adjustment is recommended according to the creatinine clearance (Ccr) calculated using the Cockcroft-Gault equation. Elderly patients are apparently more sensitive to cytotoxic agent-induced neutropenia and therefore should be monitored closely. Following the first cycle, a proper assessment of tolerability should be conducted before the second cycle; such assessments are required to discuss the appropriateness of the initiation dose and determine doses during the following cycles for each patient.