A mini geriatric assessment helps treatment decision in elderly patients with digestive cancer. A pilot study

Aparicio, Thomas; Girard, Laurence; Bouarioua, Nadia; Patry, Claire; Legrain, Sylvie; Soulé, Jean Claude

doi:10.1016/j.critrevonc.2010.01.003

« Previous Next »Critical Reviews in Oncology / Hematology
Volume 77, Issue 1 , Pages 63-69, January 2011

A mini geriatric assessment helps treatment decision in elderly patients with digestive cancer. A pilot study

Thomas Aparicio
- Service d’Hépato-Gastroentérologie, Hôpital Bichat-Claude Bernard, APHP, 46 rue Henri Huchard, 75018 Paris, France
- Service de Gastroentérologie, Hôpital Avicenne, APHP, 125 rue de Stalingrad, 93000 Bobigny, France
- Corresponding author at: Service de Gastroentérologie, Hôpital Avicenne, APHP, 125 rue de Stalingrad, 93000 Bobigny, France. Tel.: +33 1 48 95 54 34; fax: +33 1 48 95 54 39.
Laurence Girard
- Service de Gériatrie, Hôpital Bichat-Claude Bernard, APHP, 46 rue Henri Huchard, 75018 Paris, France
Nadia Bouarioua
- Service d’Hépato-Gastroentérologie, Hôpital Bichat-Claude Bernard, APHP, 46 rue Henri Huchard, 75018 Paris, France
Claire Patry
- Service de Gériatrie, Hôpital Bichat-Claude Bernard, APHP, 46 rue Henri Huchard, 75018 Paris, France
Sylvie Legrain
- Service de Gériatrie, Hôpital Bichat-Claude Bernard, APHP, 46 rue Henri Huchard, 75018 Paris, France
Jean Claude Soulé
- Service d’Hépato-Gastroentérologie, Hôpital Bichat-Claude Bernard, APHP, 46 rue Henri Huchard, 75018 Paris, France

Accepted 6 January 2010. published online 29 January 2010.

Abstract

Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is advocate to improved care of elderly with cancer but is not available in every hospital within a short delay. Therefore, a tool allowing gastroenterologist to detect rapidly specific abnormalities in elderly is needed.

Patients and methods

The aim of our pilot study was to evaluate feasibility of a mini geriatric assessment (MGA) to adapt the anticancer treatments. MGA was done by a gastroenterologist and was taken into account during the cancer multidisciplinary team meeting for making decision. Then, CGA was realised and suggested adaptation of care.

Results

21 patients over 75 years treated for different digestive cancers were enrolled. The treatments recommended by the cancer multidisciplinary team meeting after the GMA were: standard treatments in 9 (41%); modified in 10 (47%) and best supportive care in 2 (12%) patients. CGA led to an adaptation of the non-oncological treatment in 15 (72%) and of the social care in 8 (38%) patients, but never modified the oncological strategy.

Conclusions

MGA could help gastroenterologists for adaptation of anticancer treatment. The characteristics of the patients that should subsequently have a geriatric follow-up remain to be defined.

Keywords: Digestive tract, Cancer, Elderly, Prognostic factor, Geriatric assessment