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Remarkably, although 60% of new cancer cases and over 70% of cancer deaths occur in patients aged 65 years and older in Europe, standard treatment strategies have been mostly validated in younger adults. This demographic trend has led to the emergence of a new medical discipline, geriatric oncology and the development worldwide of geriatric oncology programs for the individualized management of elderly cancer patients. Elderly cancer patients represent an increasing share of the population and strategies for treating cancer must evolve to face this ineluctable reality. Treatment should take into account the highly heterogeneous physiological age of the elderly, their individual life expectancy, functional reserves, social support and preferences. French geriatric oncology programs have been mostly based on the interdependence of geriatricians, oncologists and auxiliary nursing people. This approach represent the best way to offer patients optimal management; oncologists and geriatricians collaborate to assess both global health status by means of Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) and tumor stage by means of Comprehensive Tumor Assessment (CTA) and to initiate individualized care plans, involving comprehensive management and follow-up of all identified problems. This paper focuses on progress observed in the field of geriatric oncology both in France and worldwide.

The management of elderly patients with cancer is not established. The use of antineoplastic agents (particularly of chemotherapy) raises a lot of questions. Efficiency and toxicity. Data come from subgroups of clinical trials and from selected populations. Chronological age itself does not contra-indicate chemotherapy. Pharmacokinetics. Physiologic and functional changes occur with aging but there is great inter-patient variability. Oral chemotherapy. Oral treatments underline the problem of compliance. Under-treatment. Elderly patients are under-represented in clinical trials. Relevant issues have to be defined individually and cancer's real place in patient's general situation has to be specified. Geriatric assessment. This tool has proved its usefulness in many domains for global management of elderly patients. A multidisciplinary team is necessary, under geriatrician coordination. The aim is to elaborate an individualized medico-social intervention program. Geriatric assessment in oncology. Its interest for cancer patients is shown by emerging reports but its routine use by oncologists is impossible. Treatment strategies. They are not validated.New clinical and pharmacokinetic studies are necessary in order to specify the place of the various tools and to enhance the handling of such molecules.