"What matters to you?" Patient-reported treatment goals in geriatric oncology: A cross-sectional survey

Determining the optimal course of treatment for older patients with cancer is an often-challenging process requiring a collaborative, patient-centred approach to decision-making. Older patients are more likely to experience treatment toxicities, and the evidence base supporting treatment decisions is often limited [ [1] van Deudekom F.J. Postmus I. van der Ham D.J. Pothof A.B. Broekhuizen K. Blauw G.J. et al. External validity of randomized controlled trials in older adults, a systematic review. PloS One. 2017; 12e0174053 Crossref Scopus (47) Google Scholar , [2] Sedrak M.S. Freedman R.A. Cohen H.J. Muss H.B. Jatoi A. Klepin H.D. et al. Older adult participation in cancer clinical trials: a systematic review of barriers and interventions. CA Cancer J Clin. 2021; 71: 78-92 Crossref PubMed Scopus (203) Google Scholar ]. Furthermore, treatment guidelines and registration studies often prioritise overall and progression-free survival [ [3] Booth C.M. Eisenhauer E.A. Progression-free survival: meaningful or simply measurable?. J Clin Oncol. 2012; 30: 1030-1033 Crossref PubMed Scopus (250) Google Scholar ] over pragmatic, patient-focussed, but difficult to measure endpoints, such as functional independence and quality of life. This is particularly relevant for older patients with cancer, whose priorities may be distinct from those emphasized by such studies [ [4] Seghers P.A.L.N. Wiersma A. Festen S. Stegmann M.E. Soubeyran P. Rostoft S. et al. Patient preferences for treatment outcomes in oncology with a focus on the older patient-a systematic review. Cancers. 2022; 14https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers14051147 Crossref Scopus (21) Google Scholar ]. Notwithstanding this, the literature examining treatment priorities among older adults with cancer remains sparse.