• Martine Extermann, Matti Aapro, Roberto Bernabei, Harvey Jay Cohen, Jean-Pierre Droz, Stuart Lichtman, Vincent Mor, Silvio Monfardini, Lazzaro Repetto, Liv Sørbye, Eva Topinkova, and Task Force on CGA of the International Society of Geriatric Oncology.
• H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL 33612, USA. extermann@moffitt.usf.edu
• Crit. Rev. Oncol. Hematol. 2005 Sep 1; 55 (3): 241-52.

BackgroundAs more and more cancers occur in elderly people, oncologists are increasingly confronted with the necessity of integrating geriatric parameters in the treatment of their patients.MethodsThe International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG) created a task force to review the evidence on the use of a comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) in cancer patients. A systematic review of the evidence was conducted.ResultsSeveral biological and clinical correlates of aging have been identified. Their relative weight and clinical usefulness is still poorly defined. There is strong evidence that a CGA detects many problems missed by a regular assessment in general geriatric and in cancer patients. There is also strong evidence that a CGA improves function and reduces hospitalization in the elderly. There is heterogeneous evidence that it improves survival and that it is cost-effective. There is corroborative evidence from a few studies conducted in cancer patients. Screening tools exist and were successfully used in settings such as the emergency room, but globally were poorly tested. The article contains recommendations for the use of CGA in research and clinical care for older cancer patients.ConclusionsA CGA, with or without screening, and with follow-up, should be used in older cancer patients, in order to detect unaddressed problems, improve their functional status, and possibly their survival. The task force cannot recommend any specific tool or approach above others at this point and general geriatric experience should be used.

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