Immunotherapy in Older Patients with Cancer: A Narrative Review

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Geriatric Medicine
• Immunotherapy

Background:

• Immunotherapies have transformed cancer treatment.
• Elderly patients represent over half of all cancer cases.
• Limited data exists on immunotherapy efficacy and toxicity in the geriatric population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current knowledge on immunotherapy's clinical utility and side effects in elderly cancer patients.
• To identify research gaps concerning immunotherapy in geriatric oncology.

Main Methods:

• Rapid critical review of existing literature.
• Focused on studies involving cancer patients aged 65 years and older.
• Included diverse cancer types and study designs, predominantly retrospective.

Main Results:

• Certain cancers show comparable survival rates with immunotherapy in elderly versus younger patients.
• Immunotherapy-related side effects show minimal variation across age groups.
• A significant lack of studies exists on factors influencing immunotherapy outcomes in geriatric patients.

Conclusions:

• Immunotherapies offer enhanced benefits and better tolerability for elderly patients.
• Limited studies assess immunotherapy outcomes, especially in the elderly.
• Prospective studies are crucial for a precise understanding of immunotherapy's utility, toxicity, and cost-effectiveness in older cancer patients.