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Published in: Current Oncology Reports 4/2024

Open Access 07-03-2024 | Cytostatic Therapy | REVIEW

Metronomic Chemotherapy in Elderly Patients

Authors: Arianna Bandini, Pasquale Fabio Calabrò, Marta Banchi, Paola Orlandi, Guido Bocci

Published in: Current Oncology Reports | Issue 4/2024

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

This review describes the most relevant studies found in the scientific literature regarding metronomic chemotherapy (MCT) in the geriatric oncology population to support its use as a feasible treatment of care in the frail elderly patients.

Recent Findings

Recent years have seen a reevaluation of cancer chemotherapeutic drugs and MCT is an emerging schedule in phase II and III clinical trials.

Summary

Ageing is one of the risk factors for the development of cancer, the incidence of whom increases dramatically in people who live longer. To date, standard oncological protocols involve chemotherapeutic drugs in short cycles of therapy at the maximum tolerated dose (MTD). Although these therapeutic regimens may be successful, they can cause important adverse drug reactions, especially in elderly or frail patients. MCT is a different modality of delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs (frequent low dose for prolonged time) and it looks at the overcoming of the limitations and disadvantages of MTD, in particular the toxicity aspect. We reviewed the experience of clinicians who have used MCT in clinical trials enrolling elderly patients with different cancer types.
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Metadata
Title
Metronomic Chemotherapy in Elderly Patients
Authors
Arianna Bandini
Pasquale Fabio Calabrò
Marta Banchi
Paola Orlandi
Guido Bocci
Publication date
07-03-2024
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Current Oncology Reports / Issue 4/2024
Print ISSN: 1523-3790
Electronic ISSN: 1534-6269
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-024-01505-w

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