Prostate cancer in the elderly

Prostate cancer is the most frequent malignancy in men and predominantly in elderly men. The issue of prostate cancer is likely to assume greater importance with progressive aging of the population. With frequent use of PSA testing most patients were diagnosed with localized cancer even in senior adults. Cancer-specific mortality is low in elderly men with prostate cancer and is dependent on the aggressiveness of the tumor. Currently, no established guidelines for the management of prostate cancer in the elderly exist, and treatment of senior adults with localized cancer is not optimal. While elderly men with indolent disease will not benefit from curative treatment, some patients with aggressive cancers will progress if not adequately treated. Comorbidity is the main predictor of life expectancy in the elderly. In everyday clinical practice, treatment decisions are much more influenced by age than by comorbidity. Curative treatment is an effective treatment option for selected elderly with localized prostate cancer. Conversely, most elderly men with prostate cancer received hormonal therapy, although the benefit of hormonal therapy in localized cancer is not clear and is associated with severe toxicities in some patients. In conclusion, there is a need for more risk stratified approaches for the management of prostate cancer in the elderly to avoid unnecessary intervention in men who unlikely benefit from such intervention, and allow treatment in those who might benefit from it. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.