Cancer chemotherapy in elderly cancer patients.
Older patients may benefit from chemotherapy to an extent comparable with that of younger patients if some proper precautions are taken. These include selection of the patients on the basis of life expectancy and tolerance of treatment, prophylactic use of hemopoietic growth factors for moderately toxic chemotherapy (cytoxan, adriamycin, oncovin [vincristine], prednisone [CHOP] and CHOP-like regimens), adjustment of the first treatment dose to the glomerula filtration rate, maintenance of hemoglobin levels > or = 12 g/dL, and selection of agents with a more favorable toxicology profile. This approach is outlined in the National Cancer Center Network guidelines for the management of cancer in the older person.
Balducci
Lodovico
L
Senior Adult Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA. balducci@moffitt.usf.edu
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D018579:Patient Selection; D018570:Risk Assessment; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents