Book Description

Older cancer patients are frequently excluded from clinical trials due to the concern about toxicity. Chronologically older cancer patients may not receive curative treatment especially when it involves multi-modality such as surgery and radiotherapy or chemotherapy and radiotherapy even when they are physically fit. As there is a paucity of data on older cancer patients, clinicians are often faced with a difficult choice on how to manage those patients who have many co-morbidities. As an international research organization dedicated to the care of older cancer patients, minorities, and women, the International Geriatric Radiotherapy Group would like to investigate the pattern of care across the world on the specific topic of multi-modality treatment for older cancer patients. The primary goal of our Research Topic is to assess older cancer patients' tolerance to a multimodality approach for cure or for palliation in light of new modality treatments such as targeted agents or immunotherapy which may improve outcome and toxicity in selected patients. The underlying molecular biology rationale for such an approach may also lead to new paradigms to improve the quality of care. The secondary goal of the collection is to assess treatment outcomes such as survival, disease-free survival, and loco-regional control of older cancer patients compared to younger ones.