[Treatment of cancer and hematological malignancy in elderly people: oncogeriatrics as a discipline for the future (Part I): geriatric evaluation and management of solid tumors].
OBJECTIVE
Fifty percent of cancer arise in people older than 65 year-old. Most clinical trials in cancer treatment are limited in patients younger than 65 year-old. We review literature describing particularity of cancer treatment in elderly patients.


BACKGROUND
Therapeutic decisions should be based on an estimation of the patient's life expectancy, and risks and benefits should be weighted up accordingly. Geriatric oncology is made of a geriatric evaluation of patient and of knowledge of clinical trial about elderly patients.


CONCLUSIONS
We present in this issue the principle of geriatric evaluation and the results of recent clinical trial on elderly cancer patients.
Ghiringhelli
F
F
Unité Inserm 517, faculté de médecine, 7, boulevard Jeanne-d'Arc, 21000 Dijon, France. francois.ghiringhelli@wanadoo.fr
Ladoire
S
S
Manckoundia
P
P
Chauffert
B
B
Solary
E
E
Besancenot
J F
JF
Pfitzenmeyer
P
P
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008297:Male; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000639:trends*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011379:Prognosis