Geriatric oncology (GO): Long term follow-up of a prospective series of the GO unit at A.C. Camargo Cancer Center

Abstract

Background: Ageing is a global phenomenon and has huge impact in healthcare. Still emerging in developing nations, there has been no major national innitiative focusing on oncologic geriatric patients (pts). The study describes a program to>70y cancer pts in A C Camargo Cancer Center. We hypothesized that incorporating CGA into daily practice can improve individualized care. Methods: Previous aims were to evaluate if: 1) CGA could be feasible in daily practice; 2) it could be useful as a tool in treatment/tx decision making; 3) analyse the impact of CGA in the selection of tx, with its ability to predict complications (such as dosis reduction, hospitalization, or tx discontinuation) in an Oncogeriatric Unit. The present study is to present the long term survival of those pts, candidates to receive systemic tx, who underwent CGA assessments, which included scales of: ADL (Katz, Lawton), mini-nutritional assessment, depression (GDS), comorbidities and polypharmacy. Patients were classified as fit, borderline or frail. Fit pts received mainly full treatment; frail/borderline pts, mainly modified tx or specific supportive care. Results: From Oct 25/10-Dec/12/12, 638 pts were included to be prospectively evaluated-female 55%; cancers (%): breast 26, prostate 12, colorectal 12, hematologic 8. Katz A=68%, Lawton 27=45%; polipharmacy (>=5): 48%; depression 29%, undernutrition: 21%. We have previously presented (ASCO 2014) that there was an association between the choice of oncologic treatment (original vs modified or with additional dose reduction) with Katz, Lawton, depression and nutrition scales (p