Biologic Behavior and Treatment in the Elderly. This program explores ways that neoplasia differs in clinical presentation, aggressiveness, management and outcome as a function of patient age. Assessment is also made of quality of life during treatment of the elderly cancer patient. Inpatient GEM care followed by outpatient GEM care is being studied in a 2 x 2 factorial design, randomized controlled trial.
Outcomes are survival, functional status, quality of life and cost.
An add-on study is assessing the impact of GEM on drug prescribing appropriateness and adverse drug reactions. The Association of Plasma IL-6 Levels With Functional Disability in Community Dwelling Elderly. Racial Differences in the Prevalence of Monoclonal Gammopathy in a Community-Based Sample of the Elderly.