Comprehensive geriatric assessment in older adults with cancer: Recommendations by the Italian Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology (SIGG)

Introduction Optimizing the approach to older adults with cancer is now a priority given the increasing frequency of new cancer diagnoses that are made in the older population. The comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) represents the gold-standard for (1) defining prognosis and ability to withstand cancer treatments, (2) exploring the multiple aspects that define the complexity of frail older persons, and (3) designing person-tailored interventions. Materials and methods In this document, based on a comprehensive revision of the literature, the Italian Society for Geriatrics and Gerontology proposes a CGA model (ONCOGER CGA) to be adopted by oncology centers for their routine approach to older patients with cancer. Results and discussion A widespread use of this standardized CGA format will facilitate comparisons across institutions, promote studies based on a multidimensional patient assessment, and foster the inclusion of geriatric endpoints in oncological clinical trials. Furthermore, we predict that the use of a standardized CGA approach will increase the integration of geriatricians into oncology care teams with the final result of improving therapeutic choices and clinical outcomes.

Automated summary

Optimizing the approach to older adults with cancer is a priority due to the increasing frequency of new cancer diagnoses in this population. The comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is crucial for defining prognosis, exploring the complexity of frail older individuals, and designing personalized interventions. The adoption of a standardized CGA model by oncology centers can lead to improved therapeutic choices and clinical outcomes by facilitating comparisons, promoting multidimensional patient assessments, and integrating geriatricians into oncology care teams.