Anticancer drugs are not well tolerated in all older patients with cancer

Abstract

Summary: Studies on new anticancer drugs often inappropriately conclude that these treatments are well tolerated and feasible in the older population with cancer, despite the drug being investigated in only a selection of healthy older patients who are not representative of the true older population. In this Personal View we outline examples of reports that provide misleading information to clinicians, mostly because the tolerance and efficacy were not assessed according to frailty status and only a few people who are frail were included. We also provide solutions on how to inform clinicians, patients, and health authorities more clearly about the benefits and disadvantages of new and upcoming anticancer drugs for older people with cancer.