Assessment Tool for Older Patients With Cancer

OBJECTIVES:

Primary

- Determine whether a geriatric assessment tool can predict toxicity to chemotherapy,
defined as grade 3 or 4 toxicity, hospitalization, dose delay or reduction, or
discontinuation of chemotherapy due to toxicity, in elderly patients with cancer.

Secondary

- Explore the longitudinal impact of cancer and chemotherapy treatment on geriatric
assessment parameters.

OUTLINE: Patients undergo assessments of functional status using the Timed Up and Go
Assessment (measures physical mobility) and Karnofsky Physician-Rated Performance Rating
Scale; and cognition using the Blessed Orientation-Memory-Concentration Test. These
assessments are performed by healthcare personnel. Body mass index and the percentage of
unintentional weight loss and the number of falls in the past 6 months are also assessed.

Patients also complete the following self-administered questionnaires: Instrumental
Activities of Daily Living (measures level of functioning and need for services); Activities
of Daily Living (measures higher levels of physical functioning); Karnofsky Self-Reported
Performance Rating Scale (related to survival and clinically significant illness); Physical
Health Section of the Older American Resources and Services Questionnaire (measures
comorbidity and the impact on daily activities); Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale;
Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) Social Activity Limitations Measure (measures the impact of
cancer on patients' social functioning); and MOS Social Support Survey Emotional/Information
and Tangible Subscales (measures perceived availability of social support).

Patients then begin planned chemotherapy.

After completion of chemotherapy (or a maximum of 12 months from study entry), patients
undergo assessments and complete self-administered questionnaires as described above.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 750 patients will be accrued for this study.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Pathologically confirmed cancer

- Receiving chemotherapy for either adjuvant treatment or metastatic disease prior
to beginning a new chemotherapy regimen

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

- Must be able to understand English

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

- See Disease Characteristics

- No prior enrollment in this trial

- No concurrent enrollment on a phase I clinical trial