Benefit of oncologist and geriatrician collaboration in the management of digestive cancer in elderly patients

19667 Background: A standardized geriatric evaluation is essential for the multidisciplinary discussion of elderly patients with gastrointestinal cancer. A geriatric as well as an oncological evaluation are mandatory to offer to these patients the best therapeutic option and improve their prognosis as well as their quality of life. A Geriatric Intervention Team (GIT) composed by nurses and geriatrician is working in our hospital. One of its function is to evaluate elderly patients with digestive neoplasms in collaboration with the Digestive Oncology unit (DOU). Methods: The Mini Mental State Examination, the mini-Geriatric Depression Scale and the Get up and go timed test were used for the geriatric evaluation. Results: GIT was solicited for 124 pts over a 3-year period. Their mean age was 79,1 ± 6,3 years old (65 to 96), 45% were men. The neoplasic localizations were: colorectal (53%), pancreatic (17%), esophagus (11%), hepatic carcinoma (7%) and other (12%). There was a clear prevalence of cognitive disorders identified by the Folstein MMSE. Among 65 workable files (complete MMSE), 61% of the patients had an abnormal (< 26). The observation of a time and/or space disorientation was noticed in 30% of the cases. The mini-GDS used to detect depression, was positive in 43% of the evaluations. The Timed Get Up and Go Test was used to evaluate the walking capacity self-sufficiency and the risk of falls. It was superior to 20 seconds in 40% of cases. For 77 geriatrics evaluation, the GIT was solicited before the decision of the best treatment to choose. In this population, we can clearly identify 3 clusters of patients: well-matched patients (34%) who received chimiotherapy; intermediate patients (26%) who needed a new geriatric assessment before decision; and frailed patients (40%) who received only palliative treatment. In the second group, after geriatrician intervention, 60% of patients finally received a chemotherapy. Conclusions: These results show the benefit of a close collaboration between geriatricians and oncologist. In the daily management of elderly patients, alteration are at least detected in 55% of patients by geriatric assessment. Moreover, the GIT is allow to securely classify the patients between the 3 categories and help to decision in the intermediate group. No significant financial relationships to disclose.