Polypharmacy in Oncology

Polypharmacy, defined as taking five medications or more, is a common geriatric syndrome. It is especially prevalent in older adults with cancer. For older patients with breast, lung, prostate, and colorectal cancer and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, polypharmacy has numerous adverse effects, including interactions with medications prescribed for other comorbidities. Polypharmacy is influenced by drug-drug interactions and can reduce the efficacy of systemic cancer therapeutics. It is also associated with worse progression-free and overall survival for some cancers such as lung and colorectal cancer. This highlights the need for a judicious review of all medications and the role of interventions in improving quality of life and survival.