The oncological therapy in the elderly

Summary sing incidence of cancer in old subjects yields great scientific interest. Cancer itself has different features in the elderly. Thus the choice of therapy must follow a wide investigation on the “performance status” through acknowledgements on psychological and social factors, too. The therapeutic strategy is not usually different from the one used in other sections of life, but it is important to remember that an aged patient with cancer has to be submitted to a multidimensional evaluation using specific tools, that consider not only the neoplasic pathology but also the functional consequences. Always respecting quality of life and the eventual side effects, the choice of less aggressive strategies is especially important in those patients presenting a reduced expectancy of life. The improvement of surgery and anesthesiological techniques, the use of high-energy radiotherapy, the use of hemopoietic growing factors, antiemetics of last generation and a suitable support therapy give the medical specialist the chance to choose the adequate therapeutic strategy. This is a short review of the main guide-lines to be taken into consideration in the assessment and management of elderly patients with cancer.