Head and neck cancer in the elderly: An overview on the treatment modalities

Summary The percentage of elderly people with head and neck cancers (HNC) is rising due to increasing average lifespan. As with younger patients, elderly patients require a multidisciplinary approach in order to optimise treatment results. The biological, not the chronological, age should be defined...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Cancer treatment reviews Vol. 35; no. 3; pp. 237 - 245
Main Authors:	Syrigos, Kostas N, Karachalios, Dimitris, Karapanagiotou, Eleni M, Nutting, Christopher M, Manolopoulos, Leonidas, Harrington, Kevin J
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01-05-2009
Subjects:	Age Factors Aged Aged, 80 and over Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - adverse effects Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - therapeutic use Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - epidemiology Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - therapy Chemotherapy Combined Modality Therapy Comorbidity Elderly Female Geriatric assessment Head and neck cancer Head and Neck Neoplasms - drug therapy Head and Neck Neoplasms - epidemiology Head and Neck Neoplasms - radiotherapy Head and Neck Neoplasms - surgery Head and Neck Neoplasms - therapy Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine Humans Interdisciplinary Communication Male Medicine Multidisciplinary approach Patient Care Team Postoperative Complications Radiotherapy Radiotherapy - adverse effects Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic Specialization Surgery Survival Analysis Treatment Outcome Geriatric assessment Chemotherapy Surgery Multidisciplinary approach Head and neck cancer Radiotherapy Elderly
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Summary:	Summary The percentage of elderly people with head and neck cancers (HNC) is rising due to increasing average lifespan. As with younger patients, elderly patients require a multidisciplinary approach in order to optimise treatment results. The biological, not the chronological, age should be defined individually based on co-morbidities and performance status. A comprehensive geriatric assessment represents the first and essential step for selecting further treatment options. Major improvements have been accomplished in surgical techniques and radiotherapy delivery. Several chemotherapeutic agents and targeted therapies with different toxicity profile are also available. However, the randomised studies that defined the nature of these improvements included only a small proportion of patients older than 65 years. In deciding which treatment strategy would be suitable for an individual elderly patient, we review the literature regarding surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy or their various combinations.
ISSN:	0305-7372 1532-1967
DOI:	10.1016/j.ctrv.2008.11.002