Unveiling the Pathogenesis of Geriatric Oncology: Mystery Unfolded

• Main Authors: Namrata Nandkumar Patil, Abhishek Singh Nayyar, Vijay Wadhwan, Tadakamadla Mahesh Babu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shiraz University of Medical Sciences 2013-07-01
• Series: Middle East Journal of Cancer
• Subjects: Cancer; Co-morbidity; Mutations; Geriatric; Multidisciplinary; Palliation; Supportive care
• Online Access: http://mejc.sums.ac.ir/index.php/mejc/article/view/6/2

The vast entity of the aging process must be well thought out while consideringoptimal management for elderly patients with cancer. Co-morbidity and functional statusare the key factors which determine the overall survival of patients. Multidisciplinaryapproaches to patient management must be emphasized and stressed to deal with end-of-life issues. Researchers need to identify elderly people who are most susceptible totreatment toxicities and must deal with palliation and hospice care for these patients.One approach to the issue of aging as a variable in treatment outcome would be to utilizeprograms and facilities supported by cancer institutes to address age-related questionsin clinical trials. Academic oncologists, geriatricians and pathologists can createrealistic and imminent goals to achieve victory against cancer and provide optimaltreatment that includes adequate supportive care and reduces the burden of post-treatment morbidities that compromise quality of life in these patients. This reviewfocuses on the basis of cancers that affect the elderly and how momentous advancescan be obtained to expound the pathways most critically involved in tumor developmentand progression. Through this review, an attempt has been made to explain the impactof peculiar mutations and altered cell behavior underlying geriatric oncogenesis.