Actualities in geriatric oncology

Geriatric oncology represents a novel specialty which can be defined as specific older cancer patients management. It includes a validated geriatric procedure, the comprehensive geriatric assessment, which is the best way of approaching the complex interacting medical problems of frail older patients. Geriatric assessment of elderly cancer patients is actually a subject for discussion among geriatric oncology community. Geriatric assessment may provide either guidelines for anti-cancer treatment in the elderly, or guidelines for the management of older patients with cancer. Two clinical research ways are now developed: firstly the definition of the most relevant geriatric variables allowing clinical trials in such a heterogeneous population; secondly, the determination and the validation of a specific tool to screen frail and vulnerable older patients, and the study of the geriatric assessment impact on the quality of life of older cancer people.