Filipe Coutinho, Medical Oncologist at Unidade Local de Saúde Médio Ave, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“At the UK Oncology Forum 2026, I had the opportunity to speak about a persistent challenge in geriatric oncology: the gap between the patients represented in clinical trials and the older adults we treat in everyday care.
Older people with cancer are not a homogeneous group. Frailty, multimorbidity, functional status, cognition, social context, and personal priorities all influence treatment decisions. Clinical research must reflect this complexity more consistently.
My presentation focused on how we can move from evidence gaps to trial designs that are more inclusive, more pragmatic, and more relevant to real-world oncology.
My congratulations to the organisers of the UKOF26 for a thoughtful and well-curated meeting, combining high-quality scientific content with meaningful discussion and a clear focus on the challenges faced in clinical practice.
I am grateful to the SIOG – International Society of Geriatric Oncology UK Country Group for the invitation and for creating such a valuable space for exchange and collaboration.
I was also very pleased to see the introduction of the toolkit “Cancer care in older people living with frailty: An assessment and management toolkit.” Developed through a collaborative initiative between the SIOG – International Society of Geriatric Oncology UK Country Group and Pfizer, this is an important practical resource to support healthcare professionals in recognising, assessing, and managing frailty in older adults with cancer.
The direction of travel is clear:
better representation in clinical trials, better assessment in practice, and better-informed decisions for each individual patient.”
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