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Current Oncology
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Advances in Geriatric Oncology: Toward Optimized Cancer Care
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Advances in Geriatric Oncology: Toward Optimized Cancer Care

A special issue of Current Oncology (ISSN 1718-7729). This special issue belongs to the section "Palliative and Supportive Care".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 3481

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Michael J. Lind

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Hull York Medical School, University of Hull, Hull HU6 7RU, UK
Interests: oncogeriatrics; thoracic oncology; mesothelioma

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

The global numbers of elderly cancer patients are dramatically increasing. This presents a huge challenge to health care professionals in terms of managing older patients with multiple age-related comorbidities. This often biases clinicians against treating elderly cancer patients. This has led several centres to embed oncogeriatric services in their oncology service. Further solutions include prehabilitation strategies, including exercise to improve fitness for systemic anticancer therapy. Today, many anticancer therapies are much more effective, and elderly patients can expect to live longer. This creates an additional strain on the system, in that these patients need a more protracted follow-up.

It is also important to realise the under-representation of elderly patients in clinical trials. This can cause problems with the implementation of trial findings in elderly cancer patients, as was the case with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews in the area of Geriatric Oncology are welcome.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Michael J. Lind
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Current Oncology is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • oncogeriatrics
  • clinical trials
  • prehabilitation
  • elderly cancer patients
  • cancer care

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 421 KB  
Article
Implementation and Outcomes of a Perioperative Geriatrics Strategy, PRIME, for Older Adults Undergoing Gastrointestinal Cancer Surgery
by Gabriella Jacob, Eric K. C. Wong, Rachel Fuh, Tyler R. Chesney and Camilla L. Wong
Curr. Oncol. 2025, 32(9), 494; https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol32090494 - 3 Sep 2025
Viewed by 867
Abstract
Introduction: The number of older adults living with frailty undergoing gastrointestinal cancer surgery is increasing. To address the unique needs of the population, a whole pathway perioperative geriatrics strategy—PRIME—was developed to integrate geriatric principles into surgical care. The objective of this study was [...] Read more.
Introduction: The number of older adults living with frailty undergoing gastrointestinal cancer surgery is increasing. To address the unique needs of the population, a whole pathway perioperative geriatrics strategy—PRIME—was developed to integrate geriatric principles into surgical care. The objective of this study was to evaluate the implementation of PRIME using validated structural, process, and outcome quality indicators. Materials and Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 106 consecutive patients aged 70 years and older who underwent gastrointestinal surgery for cancer or pre-cancerous lesions at a single institution between 1 July 2020 and 5 October 2023. The whole pathway perioperative geriatrics strategy, PRIME, includes preoperative comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA), collaborative care between surgery, geriatrics, and anesthesia, and post-operative co-management. Implementation was evaluated using validated structural, process, and outcome quality indicators. Results: Most structural indicators (five of eight) were implemented. In terms of process indicators, 96.2% (n = 102) received CGA prior to or within 24 h of admission. Adherence to screening was high: 97.2% for dementia, 96.2% for functional status, and 95.3% for frailty. The median number interventions resulting from CGA was 17 (IQR 14–20). Serious complication, delirium, and functional decline occurred in 19.8%, 27.1%, and 19.8%, respectively. Conclusions: Implementation of a perioperative geriatrics strategy for older adults undergoing gastrointestinal cancer/pre-cancer lesion surgery is feasible, with high adherence to structural and process quality indicators. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Geriatric Oncology: Toward Optimized Cancer Care)
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21 pages, 984 KB  
Article
Exploring Determinants of Compassionate Cancer Care in Older Adults Using Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping
by Dominique Tremblay, Chiara Russo, Catherine Terret, Catherine Prady, Sonia Joannette, Sylvie Lessard, Susan Usher, Émilie Pretet-Flamand, Christelle Galvez, Élisa Gélinas-Phaneuf, Julien Terrier and Nathalie Moreau
Curr. Oncol. 2025, 32(8), 465; https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol32080465 - 16 Aug 2025
Viewed by 544
Abstract
The growing number of older adults with cancer confront practical and organizational limitations that hinder their ability to obtain care that is adapted to their health status, needs, expectations, and life choices. The integration into practice of evidence-based and institutional recommendations for a [...] Read more.
The growing number of older adults with cancer confront practical and organizational limitations that hinder their ability to obtain care that is adapted to their health status, needs, expectations, and life choices. The integration into practice of evidence-based and institutional recommendations for a geriatric approach and person-centered high-quality care remains incomplete. This study uses an action research design to explore stakeholders’ perspectives of the challenges involved in translating the established care priorities into a compassionate geriatric approach in oncology and identify promising pathways to improvement. Fifty-three stakeholders participated in focus groups to create cognitive maps representing perceived relationships between concepts related to compassionate care of older adults with cancer. Combining maps results in a single model constructed in Mental Modeler software to weigh relationships and calculate concept centrality (importance in the model). The model represents stakeholders’ collective perspective of the determinants of compassionate care that need to be addressed at different decision-making levels. The results reveal pathways to improvement at systemic, organizational, practice, and societal levels. These include connecting policies on ageing and national cancer programs, addressing fragmented care through interdisciplinary teamwork, promoting person-centered care, cultivating relational proximity, and combatting ageism. Translating evidence-based practices and priority orientations into compassionate care rests on collective capacities across multiple providers to address the whole person and their unique trajectory. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Geriatric Oncology: Toward Optimized Cancer Care)
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15 pages, 583 KB  
Article
Implementation of a Multi-Disciplinary Geriatric Oncology Clinic in Toronto, Canada
by Ines B. Menjak, Khloe Campos, Mark Pasetka, Arlene Budden, Elaine Curle, Leslie Gibson, Ewa Szumacher and Rajin Mehta
Curr. Oncol. 2025, 32(2), 89; https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol32020089 - 6 Feb 2025
Viewed by 1205
Abstract
Older adults with cancer tend to face more complex health needs than their younger counterparts. Patients > 65 years of age are recommended for comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) to capture and address age-related vulnerabilities. Access to geriatrics services is limited, and our baseline [...] Read more.
Older adults with cancer tend to face more complex health needs than their younger counterparts. Patients > 65 years of age are recommended for comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) to capture and address age-related vulnerabilities. Access to geriatrics services is limited, and our baseline audit of geriatric referrals in 2019 from the cancer program revealed that only 30% of patients referred received a CGA. The aim of this study was to assess the implementation of a geriatric oncology (GO) clinic that employs CGA and determine patient outcomes. We conducted a retrospective cohort study at a single institution. Data collection included baseline characteristics, GO clinic findings and characteristics, recommendations/referrals, and emergency room (ER) visits/hospitalizations within 6 months of CGA. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis. A total of 100 patients were included, with a median (range) age of 80 (63–97) years; 70% were female, and the most common cancer type was breast (31%). Through the GO clinic, patients were seen in a timely manner, with a median of 3 weeks, compared to our historical baseline of 11 weeks. Cognitive decline (32%) and pre-treatment CGA (22%) were the most common reasons for referral, and the most common new diagnosis was cognitive impairment (65%). For pre-treatment CGA, 16 (48%) patients were deemed suitable for treatment and 10 (30%) were recommended for modified treatment; 34 (94%) referring physicians followed the recommendation. In addition, most (68%) patients received an allied health referral. One third of patients visited the ER and 30 (30%) patients were hospitalized. Overall, the GO clinic resulted in greater access to CGA in a timely manner, enhanced access to allied health, and assisted in treatment decision-making. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Geriatric Oncology: Toward Optimized Cancer Care)
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