Management of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia in the older cancer patient.
The chemotherapy of most cancers may be beneficial to older individuals as long as patients are selected on the basis of their life expectancy and functional reserve, conditions that may interfere with the tolerance of chemotherapy are corrected, and adequate doses of chemotherapy are administered. Prevention of neutropenia-related infection may both improve the outcome of cancer and reduce the risk of toxic deaths in older patients. The prophylactic use of myelopoietic growth factors is recommended in individuals aged 65 and older when the risk of chemotherapy-induced neutropenic infection is at least 10% or higher. In this article we explore the management of neutropenia and neutropenic infections in older cancer patients, as well as review the causes and the risk of this complication.
Balducci
Lodovico
L
Senior Adult Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida 33612, USA. balducci@moffitt.usf.edu
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors; D011994:Recombinant Proteins