Comprehensive geriatric assessment for older women with early breast cancer – a systematic review of literature
Open Access
- 17 May 2012
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in World Journal of Surgical Oncology
- Vol. 10 (1), 88
- https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7819-10-88
Abstract
Background The Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) is an analytical tool increasingly implemented in clinical practice. Breast cancer is primarily a disease of older people; however, most evidence-based research is aimed at younger patients. Methods A systematic review of literature was carried out to assess the use of CGA in older breast cancer patients for clinical decision making. The PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases were searched. Results A total of nine useful full text article results were found. Only five of these were exclusively concerned with early breast cancer; thus, studies involving a variety of cancer types, stages and treatments were accepted, as long as they included early breast cancer.The results comprised a series of low sources of evidence. However, all results shared a common theme: the CGA has a use in determining patient suitability for different types of cancer treatment and subsequently maximizing the patient’s quality of life. Conclusions There is not yet sufficient high level evidence to instate CGA guidelines as a mandatory practice in the management of breast cancer, due to the heterogeneity of available studies. More studies need to be conducted to cement current work on the benefits of the CGA. An area of particular interest is with regard to treatment options, especially surgery and chemotherapy, and identifying patients who may be suitable for these treatments.Keywords
This publication has 26 references indexed in Scilit:
- Predicting Chemotherapy Toxicity in Older Adults With Cancer: A Prospective Multicenter StudyJournal of Clinical Oncology, 2011
- Adjuvant chemotherapy in elderly patients with early breast cancer. Impact of age and comprehensive geriatric assessment on tumor board proposalsCritical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology, 2011
- Factors leading oncologists to refer elderly cancer patients for geriatric assessmentJournal of Geriatric Oncology, 2011
- Coming of Age: Breast Cancer in SeniorsThe Oncologist, 2010
- Multidimensional geriatric evaluation for older cancer patients as a clinical and research toolCancer Treatment Reviews, 2009
- Does a Geriatric Oncology Consultation Modify the Cancer Treatment Plan for Elderly Patients?The Journals of Gerontology, Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 2008
- Early Breast Cancer in the ElderlyDrugs & Aging, 2008
- Comprehensive Geriatric assessment and its clinical impact in oncologyEuropean Journal of Cancer, 2007
- Mastering chemotherapy dose reduction in elderly cancer patientsEuropean Journal of Cancer, 2007
- Pre-operative assessment of cancer in the elderly (PACE): A comprehensive assessment of underlying characteristics of elderly cancer patients prior to elective surgerySurgical Oncology, 2006