Oncology in elderly and adolescent patients
Geriatric assessment and chemotherapy toxicity tools (G8, CARG, GAP70+, INTEGERATE), dosing and screening decisions in older people, and the cancers, fertility, psychosocial and late-effect issues of adolescents and young adults.
Tier 1Topic overview
Written with AI assistance and fact-checked against the sources below. For exam study, not clinical decisions. How notes are made
At a glance
- Most new cancers in Australia are diagnosed in people 65 and over, yet older people are under-represented in the trials that set standard doses.
- Chronological age is a poor guide. A geriatric assessment predicts toxicity and survival better than age or ECOG performance status, and acting on it reduces toxicity (GAP70+, GAIN) and admissions (INTEGERATE).
- The COSA and Cancer Australia Optimal care pathway for older people with cancer (first edition, 2025) makes geriatric screening and assessment part of standard care.
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Sources
- Optimal care pathway for older people with cancer, first editionAU/NZClinical Oncology Society of Australia and Cancer Australia, 2025
- Dale W et al. Practical assessment and management of vulnerabilities in older patients receiving systemic cancer therapy: ASCO guideline update. J Clin Oncol 2023;41:4293-312American Society of Clinical Oncology, 2023 (current, November 2026)
- Soo WK et al. Integrated Geriatric Assessment and Treatment Effectiveness (INTEGERATE) in older people with cancer starting systemic anticancer treatment in Australia: a multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled trial. Lancet Healthy Longev 2022;3:e617-27AU/NZThe Lancet Healthy Longevity, 2022
- Mohile SG et al. Evaluation of geriatric assessment and management on the toxic effects of cancer treatment (GAP70+): a cluster-randomised study. Lancet 2021;398:1894-904The Lancet, 2021
- Li D et al. Geriatric assessment-driven intervention (GAIN) on chemotherapy-related toxic effects in older adults with cancer: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Oncol 2021;7:e214158JAMA Oncology, 2021
- eviQ Cancer Treatments Online (frailty and older adults with cancer)AU/NZCancer Institute NSW
- COSA guidelines for the psychosocial management of adolescents and young adults with cancerAU/NZClinical Oncology Society of Australia, 2025
- Optimal care pathway for adolescents and young adults with cancerAU/NZCancer Council Australia and Victorian Paediatric Integrated Cancer Service, 2022
- Moore HCF et al. Goserelin for ovarian protection during breast-cancer adjuvant chemotherapy (POEMS). N Engl J Med 2015;372:923-32New England Journal of Medicine, 2015
- Last updated
- 14 November 2026
What changed
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