AIM: To define the necessary arrangements of medical treatment with anti-angiogenics, mTOR inhibitor or systemic immunotherapies in the management of metastatic renal cell carcinoma in elderly patients.
METHOD: Bibliographical search was performed from the Medline bibliographic database (NLM Pubmed tool) and Embase focused on: metastatic renal cell carcinoma, elderly, treatment.
RESULTS: The selection criteria for the medical treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma in elderly patients are the IMDC score, necessarily complemented by performance status, the tolerability profile of treatments, more frequent drug interactions, treatment adherence, management capacity of side effects, and patient preference. Each of these criteria is detailed in critical ways.
CONCLUSION: The efficacy and tolerability of medical treatments for metastatic renal cancer have not been reported as different depending on age. No dosage adjustment is recommended in principle. However, prevention and early treatment of side effects of treatment should be strengthened in elderly patients.