Advanced kidney cancer: treating the elderly

Expert Rev Anticancer Ther. 2013 Dec;13(12):1389-98. doi: 10.1586/14737140.2013.846095. Epub 2013 Nov 14.

Abstract

Advancing age represents the primary risk factor for renal tumors. Despite findings on the inhibition of angiogenesis that have led to six new drugs to treat metastatic renal cell carcinoma, elderly patients have not been fully represented in clinical trials. In addition, current opinions regarding nephrectomy in elderly patients are conflicting. Available data refer to the efficacy and safety of sorafenib, sunitinib, everolimus, bevacizumab and temsirolimus in patients aged 65 years and older; safety and efficacy data are available only for sunitinib, sorafenib,and everolimus in patients aged 70 years and older and only sorafenib has safety data for patients aged 75 years and older. A different approach based on evaluating comorbidities at baseline, risk of drug interactions and the impact of antitumor treatment in patients with polytherapy regimen is discussed. A decision-making algorithm is proposed to facilitate the selection of the best therapy for kidney tumors for a specific elderly patient profile.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / therapeutic use
  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Bevacizumab
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / surgery
  • Everolimus
  • Humans
  • Indoles / therapeutic use
  • Kidney Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Kidney Neoplasms / pathology
  • Kidney Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Niacinamide / analogs & derivatives
  • Niacinamide / therapeutic use
  • Phenylurea Compounds / therapeutic use
  • Pyrroles / therapeutic use
  • Sirolimus / analogs & derivatives
  • Sirolimus / therapeutic use
  • Sorafenib
  • Sunitinib

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Indoles
  • Phenylurea Compounds
  • Pyrroles
  • Niacinamide
  • Bevacizumab
  • temsirolimus
  • Everolimus
  • Sorafenib
  • Sunitinib
  • Sirolimus