L. Decoster MD, PhD

Geriatric oncology: Integrative Oncology – Leaving no one behind

SUMMARY

The 2019 annual conference of the International Society of Geriatric Oncology took place in Geneva, Switzerland from November 14–16^th. This year, the International Society of Geriatric Oncology and the International Federation on Ageing also jointly hosted a meeting at the United Nations on the development and preparation of health care professionals for the ageing population with cancer.

(BELG J MED ONCOL 2020;14(3):114–5)

Geriatric oncology: targeting older patients with cancer

SUMMARY

As the cancer population ages, treatment decisions in the older patients should not only be guided by the tumour characteristics but also by patient characteristics. The performance of a comprehensive geriatric assessment as well as a health related quality of life evaluation are important in order to deliver the optimal personalised care in older patients with cancer. The current PhD thesis focused on the use of screening tools, geriatric assessment and interventions as well as on health-related quality of life in older patients with cancer.

(BELG J MED ONCOL 2020;14(3):106–8)

Geriatric oncology: becoming mainstream cancer care

SUMMARY

The 2018 annual conference of the International Society of Geriatric Oncology took place in Amsterdam, the Netherlands from November 16–18th. More than 500 delegates from 41 countries with a special interest in the care for older patients with cancer attended this conference. The meeting provided an overview of current advances in geriatric oncology.

(BELG J MED ONCOL 2019;13(2):60–62)

Geriatric oncology: From research to practice: Incorporating geriatric oncology into patient care

The 2017 annual conference of the International Society of Geriatric Oncology took place in Warsaw, Poland from November 9–11^th. More than 300 delegates from 42 countries with a special interest in the care for older patients with cancer attended this conference. The meeting provided an overview of current advances in geriatric oncology.

(BELG J MED ONCOL 2018:12(3):142–144)

Checkpoint inhibitors in the first-line treatment of non-small cell lung cancer

SUMMARY

Antibodies against programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) and its ligand (PD-L1) have become standard-of-care in the second-line treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer after failure of first-line chemotherapy. The observed durable responses as well as the favourable toxicity profile have moved these agents to first-line studies for advanced non-small cell lung cancer. In tumours with high PD-L1 expression, pembrolizumab is registered as the preferred first-line treatment. Further studies are currently focusing on combination strategies. The major future challenge will be selecting the optimal treatment strategy for the patient.

(BELG J MED ONCOL 2017;11(8):380–385)

Geriatric Oncology: a multidisciplinary approach in a global environment

SUMMARY

The 2016 annual conference of the International Society of Geriatric Oncology took place in Milan, Italy from November 17–19^th. More than 450 delegates from 42 countries with a special interest in the care for older patients with cancer attended this conference. The meeting provided an overview of current advances in geriatric oncology.

(BELG J MED ONCOL 2017;11(2):78–80)

O.09 Geriatric assessment (GA)- guided interventions in older patients (pts) with cancer