2173P - Exploring the complex needs of older patients receiving targeted therapies and immune checkpoint inhibitors for renal and skin cancers at the Royal Marsden Hospital

Background

Fifty-four percent of new cancer cases in the UK occur in patients ≥65 years. Prior evidence supports the need for a comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) to inform treatment decision making in this heterogenous population. This study aimed to assess the needs of older patients with renal and skin cancers in a tertiary referral centre.

Methods

The Senior Adult Oncology Programme Questionnaire (SAOP3) has been validated as a geriatric screening tool covering functional status and physical performance, nutrition, speech and language, cognition and psychosocial issues. SAOP3 was used to assess out-patients ≥70 years receiving or referred for consideration of systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT) for renal or skin cancers. Comorbidities, admissions and emergency contacts frequency were obtained from electronic patient records. The primary endpoint was the number of patients identified as potentially requiring geriatric assessment-driven interventions.

Results

Between 29/7/2022 – 18/11/2022, 36 patients were assessed using SAOP3 with a mean age of 74 years (range 70-94). Despite 83% (30/36) of patients being identified as potentially requiring CGA-driven interventions, 28% (10/36) of patients were deemed fit enough for combination therapy including dual immunotherapy (IO) or tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) plus IO. Mobility problems were the most common driver of a recommendation for CGA-led intervention (78%; 28/36) with 31% (11/36) of patients reporting loss of balance or a fall in the past year. At ≥6 months from screening, 36% (13/36) of patients had ≥1 admission (range per patient 0-5; total 25) and 36% (13/36) patients called the telephone support line (range per patient 0-5; total 27). Table: 2173P

Table of characteristics

Conclusions

Our study highlighted that this patient population has complex needs and supports the establishment of the Senior Adult Oncology Programme in our centre and geriatric oncology services more widely.

Clinical trial identification

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

Registered Service Evaluation at the Royal Marsden Hospital.

Funding

Has not received any funding.

Disclosure

All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.