[Treatment of cancer and hematological malignancy in elderly people: oncogeriatrics as a discipline for the future (Part I): geriatric evaluation and management of solid tumors].
PURPOSE: Fifty percent of cancer arise in people older than 65 year-old. Most clinical trials in cancer treatment are limited in patients younger than 65 year-old. We review literature describing particularity of cancer treatment in elderly patients. CURRENT KNOWLEDGE AND KEY POINTS: Therapeutic decisions should be based on an estimation of the patient's life expectancy, and risks and benefits should be weighted up accordingly. Geriatric oncology is made of a geriatric evaluation of patient and of knowledge of clinical trial about elderly patients. FUTURE PROSPECTS AND PROJECTS: We present in this issue the principle of geriatric evaluation and the results of recent clinical trial on elderly cancer patients.