Impact of a comprehensive geriatric assessment on decision-making in older patients with hematological malignancies

Systematic nutritional screening and assessment in older patients: Rationale for its integration into oncology practice

As the global population ages, so does the number of older people being diagnosed, treated and surviving cancer. Challenges to providing appropriate healthcare management stem from the heterogeneity common in this population. Although malnutrition is highly prevalent in older people with cancer, ranging between 30 % and 80 % according to some analyses, is associated with frailty, and has been shown to be a major risk factor for poor treatment response and worse overall survival, addressing nutrition status is not always a priority among oncology healthcare providers. Evaluation of nutritional status is a two-step process: screening identifies risk factors for reduced nutritional intake and deficits that require more in-depth assessment. Screening activities can be as simple as taking weight and BMI measurements or using short nutritional questionnaires and asking the patient about unintentional weight loss to identify potential nutritional risk. Using geriatric assessment, deficits in the nutritional domain as well as in others reveal potentially reversible geriatric and medical problems to guide specific therapeutic interventions. The authors of this paper are experts in the fields of geriatric medicine, oncology, and nutrition science and believe that there is not only substantial evidence to support regularly performing screening and assessment of nutritional status in older patients with cancer, but that these measures lead to the planning and implementation of patient-centered approaches to nutrition management and thus enhanced geriatric-oncology care. This paper presents rationale for systematic nutrition screening and assessment in older adults with cancer.

Hematological Malignancies in Older Patients: Focus on the Potential Role of a Geriatric Assessment Management

Geriatric assessment management is a multidimensional tool used to evaluate prognosis for clinical outcomes and targets for interventions in older adults with cancer receiving chemotherapy. In this review, we evaluated the possible application of geriatric assessment management (GAM) in hematological malignancies. In older patients with Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma, GAM might be helpful in both predicting planned hospital admissions and improving quality of life. In chronic myeloid leukemia, the Charlson Comorbidity Index demonstrates how comorbidities could affect treatment compliance and overall outcomes. In multiple myeloma, the application of different scores such as the International Myeloma Working Group Frailty Index and the Revised Myeloma Comorbidity Index can identify frail patients who need suitable interventions in treatment plan (reducing drug dose or changing treatment). Therefore, including GAM in the management plan of older patients with hematological malignancies may direct and optimize cancer care.

Defining an Abnormal Geriatric Assessment: Which Deficits Matter Most?

At present, there is no clear definition of what constitutes an abnormal geriatric assessment (GA) in geriatric oncology. Various threshold numbers of abnormal GA domains are often used, but how well these are associated with treatment plan modification (TPM) and whether specific GA domains are more important in this context remains uncertain. A retrospective review of the geriatric oncology clinic database at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto, Canada, including new patients seen for treatment decision making from May 2015 to June 2022, was conducted. Logistic regression modelling was performed to determine the association between various predictor variables (including the GA domains and numerical thresholds) and TPM. The study cohort (n = 736) had a mean age of 80.7 years, 46.1% was female, and 78.3% had a VES-13 score indicating vulnerability (≥3). In the univariable analysis, the best-performing threshold number of abnormal domains based on area under the curve (AUC) was 4 (AUC 0.628). The best-performing multivariable model (AUC 0.704) included cognition, comorbidities, and falls risk. In comparison, the multivariable model with the sole addition of the threshold of 4 had an AUC of 0.689. Overall, an abnormal GA may be best defined as one with abnormalities in the domains of cognition, comorbidities, and falls risk. The optimal numerical threshold to predict TPM is 4.

Frailty assessment to individualize treatment in older patients with lymphoma

PURPOSE

A study analyzing the application of a protocol of comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) in older patients with lymphoma was carried out to allow frailty-based patient classification and individualized treatment.

METHODS

Lymphoma patients older than 70 years referred to the Geriatric Clinic at a tertiary hospital between May 2016 and March 2021 were included. The assessment protocol included comorbidity, polypharmacy, nutritional, functional, and mental status, geriatric syndromes, and life expectancy. CGA enabled patient classification into four groups (Type I to Type IV) based on frailty assessment instrument scoring and clinical, functional, and mental status. Variables were compared using parametric and non-parametric statistical tests and Kaplan-Meier survival curves.

RESULTS

Ninety-three patients (55.9% women) were included. Median age was 81.1 years (± 5.7). 23 patients (24.7%) were classified as robust (type I), 30 (32.3%) as pre-frail (type II) with potentially reversable deficits, 38 (40.9%) as frail (type III), and 2 (2.2%) as requiring palliative care (type IV). Patients received oncospecific treatment with modifications carried out in 64.5% of cases based on CGA results. Differences in overall survival (p = 0.002), response to treatment (p < 0.001) and likelihood of increased frailty (p = 0.024) were observed, with type III-IV patients showing significantly worse outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Performance of standardized, systematic CGA by geriatricians permits older lymphoma patients to be classified according to frailty, with significant differences in terms of clinical outcomes across groups. We propose incorporating CGA performed by geriatricians as part of the multidisciplinary care team to optimize therapeutic strategy for these patients.

Low-dose decitabine for previously untreated acute myeloid leukemia ineligible for intensive chemotherapy aged 65 years or older: a prospective study based on comprehensive geriatric assessment

Background

The outcome of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) aged ⩾65 years is poor. Effective treatment options are limited for patients with AML who cannot tolerate intensive chemotherapy.

Objectives

We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of low-dose decitabine in previously untreated patients with AML aged ⩾65 years who were ineligible for intensive chemotherapy based on a comprehensive geriatric assessment.

Design

We performed a prospective, multicenter, open-label, and non-randomized study.

Methods

Patients were enrolled at four centers in Beijing between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2020. They were treated with decitabine at a dose of 6 mg/m2 for 10 days. The treatment was repeated every 28 days for one cycle for a total of six cycles. The primary endpoint of our study was overall survival (OS) at the end of the first year after enrolment. The secondary endpoints included overall response rate, leukemia-free survival, relapse rate, treatment-related mortality (TRM), quality of life, safety, and transfusion dependence. Patients were continuously monitored for toxicity.

Results

Overall, 47 patients (30 males and 17 females) participated in this study. The median age of the enrolled patients was 78 (range, 65-90) years. The median follow-up time was 22.2 (range, 4.6-38.8) months. Fifteen (31.9%) patients achieved complete remission (CR), 11 (23.4%) patients achieved partial remission, 3 (6.4%) patients achieved hematological improvement only, and 18 (38.3%) patients did not achieve remission. The median time to obtain CR was 2 months. The median CR was 8.5 months. Of the patients, 36 (76.6%) patients completed six cycles of treatment with low-dose decitabine, and the 1-year OS was 36.1%. According to instrumental activities of daily living scales, age, comorbidities, and albumin (IACA) scores, the median survival was 11.2 months in the unfit group and 6 months in the frail group. The 1-year OS rates in the unfit and frail groups were 49.2% and 23.4%, respectively. Grade ⩾3 non-hematological toxicity was observed in 70.2% (33/47) of the patients. TRM occurred in three patients. No early deaths occurred after treatment.

Conclusion

In newly diagnosed older patients with AML whose IACA assessment was unfit or frail for standard chemotherapy, treatment with low-dose decitabine demonstrated clinical activity and good security in our study.

The Five "Ws" of Frailty Assessment and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Who, What, Where, Why, and When

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a disease of the elderly, but chronological age does not accurately discriminate frailty status at the inter-individual level. Frailty describes a person's overall resilience. Since CLL is a stressful situation, it is relevant to assess the patient´s degree of frailty, especially before starting antineoplastic treatment. We are in the era of targeted therapies, which have helped to control the disease more effectively and avoid the toxicity of chemo (immuno) therapy. However, these drugs are not free of side effects and other aspects arise that should not be neglected, such as interactions, previous comorbidities, or adherence to treatment, since most of these medications are taken continuously. The challenge we face is to balance the risk of toxicity and efficacy in a personalized way and without forgetting that the most frequent cause of death in CLL is related to the disease. For this purpose, comprehensive geriatric assessment (GA) provides us with the opportunity to evaluate multiple domains that may affect tolerance to treatment and that could be improved with appropriate interventions. In this review, we will analyze the state of the art of GA in CLL through the five Ws.

Acute myeloid leukemia in the medically unfit elderly patients

Acute Myeloid Leukemia is a clonal proliferative disorder whose incidence increases with age. While studies have shown that the elderly medically unfit patients have poorer outcomes with intensive chemotherapy, a vast majority of them are deemed ineligible for intensive chemotherapy. Multiple studies have also shown that poor performance status prior to treatment initiation affects the prognosis. An accurate comprehensive assessment is hence vital to the selection of such patients. The chemotherapy agents that have been used for AML in the medically unfit patients have also changed significantly in the past few years. In this review we focus on the importance of comprehensive geriatric assessment prior to chemotherapy initiation among patients who are 75 years and older and the treatment approaches available for the medically unfit, Acute Myeloid Leukemia patients.

Clinical Dilemmas in the Treatment of Elderly Patients Suffering from Hodgkin Lymphoma: A Review

Elderly patients make up a significant number of cases of newly diagnosed Hodgkin lymphoma. However, unlike in young patients, the outcomes of elderly patients are poor, and they are under-represented in phase III trials. Prior to treatment initiation, geriatric assessment should ideally be performed to address the patient's fitness and decide whether to pursue a curative or palliative approach. The ABVD regimen is poorly tolerated in unfit patients, with high treatment-related mortality. Alternative chemotherapy approaches have been explored, with mixed results obtained concerning their feasibility and toxicity in phase II trials. The introduction of brentuximab vedotin-based regimens led to a paradigm shift in first- and further-line treatment of elderly Hodgkin lymphoma patients, providing adequate disease control within a broader patient population. As far as checkpoint inhibitors are concerned, we are only just beginning to understand the role in the treatment of this population. In relapsed/refractory settings there are few options, ranging from autologous stem cell transplantation in selected patients to pembrolizumab, but unfortunately, palliative care is the most common modality. Importantly, published studies are frequently burdened with numerous biases (such as low numbers of patients, selection bias and lack of geriatric assessment), leading to low level of evidence. Furthermore, there are few ongoing studies on this topic. Thus, elderly Hodgkin lymphoma patients are hard to treat and represent an unmet need in hematologic oncology. In conclusion, treatment needs to be personalized and tailored on a case-by-case basis. In this article, we outline treatment options for elderly Hodgkin lymphoma patients.

Quality of life of patients with hematological malignancies and factors affecting health state utility values

PURPOSE

It is well studied that physical function and social background affect the quality of life (QoL) of cancer patients. However, differences in QoL by age and factors affecting health state utility values (HSUV) of patients with hematological malignancies have not yet been sufficiently investigated. Our aim is to investigate the factors that affect QoL and HSUV in such patients.

METHODS

A total of 32 patients with hematological malignancies on outpatient chemotherapy were included. QoL and HSUV were evaluated using the EuroQol-5 Dimension 5-level (EQ-5D-5L). Physical function was assessed using grip strength, knee extension strength, 6-min walking distance, and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Fatigue was assessed using Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI), and nutritional status was assessed using Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA-SF).

RESULTS

In the EQ-5D-5L, a high percentage of the patients were aware of mobility problems and pain/discomfort, and mobility problems were more common in the older-aged group (≥ 65 years old, n = 16) than in the middle-aged group (< 65 years old, n = 16). In addition, the older-aged group showed lower HSUV and physical function. SPPB (β = 0.38, p < 0.01), BFI (β =  - 0.58, p < 0.01), and MNA-SF (β = 0.29, p = 0.02) were independent factors affecting HSUV (adjusted R² = 0.65, p < 0.01). BFI was correlated with HSUV in both older and middle-aged groups.

CONCLUSION

Comprehensive supports, to improve lower extremity function, fatigue, and nutritional status, are required to augment QoL and HSUV in patients with hematological malignancies.

Geriatric assessment in older adults with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma: A Young International Society of Geriatric Oncology (YSIOG) review paper

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is a disease of older adults, with a median age at diagnosis of 67 years. Treatment in older adults with NHL is challenging. The aging process is associated with a decline in functional reserve that varies among individuals, and results in an increasing risk of treatment-related toxicity and mortality. Chronological age and performance status fail to capture the multidimensional and heterogeneous nature of the aging process. A geriatric assessment (GA) screens multiple geriatric domains and provides a more accurate assessment of functional reserve. Several abbreviated GA tools have been developed for use in oncology clinics and help identify patients at high risk for chemotherapy-related toxicity and mortality. In this review, we explore GA tools validated for use in patients with NHL. We discuss the evidence behind GA-guided treatment in NHL and present a suggested approach to assessing frailty in this patient population.