The effect of treatment modifications by an onco-geriatric MDT on one-year mortality, days spent at home and postoperative complications.

Objectives: Decision-making in older patients with cancer can be complex, as benefits of treatment should be weighed against possible side-effects and life-expectancy. A novel care pathway was set up incorporating geriatric assessment into treatment decision-making for older cancer patients. Treatment decisions could be modified following discussion in an onco-geriatric multidisciplinary team (MDT).

How to incorporate geriatric assessment in clinical decision-making for older patients with cancer. An implementation study.

Introduction: With the accumulating evidence on the added value on prediction of outcomes of geriatric assessment (GA) in older patients with cancer, the question shifts from whether performing a GA is useful, to how to implement this into standard practice in a feasible and effective way. The effect of implementing GA, and assessment of patient preferences on treatment recommendations by an onco-geriatric multidisciplinary team (MDT), was compared to the recommendation previously made by the tumor board (care as usual).

Methods: Patients aged 70 years and older with a solid malignancy who were referred to a tertiary care center for diagnosis and treatment recommendations, as provided by a tumor board, were included.

A Phase I study of gemcitabine with concurrent radiotherapy in stage III, locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Purpose: Our goal was to find the maximum tolerated dose of gemcitabine administered concurrently with thoracic radiotherapy in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Patients And Methods: Patients with stage III NSCLC and a radiation planning volume less than 2000 cm(3) were included. Treatment consisted of 6 weeks of thoracic radiation, 2 Gy daily for 5 days a week for a total dose of 60 Gy.