Inthecomingyearslifeexpectancyisexpectedtoincreaseandwiththisthepercentageofthepopulationaboveage65willgrow.Patientsabove65makeupmorethantwothirdsofthosecurrentlydiagnosedwithgastrointestinalmalignancies.Availableevidencebasedmedicinedoesnotfocusontheaveragepatient,abovetheage70,encounteredineverydaypractice.Mostguidelinesandclinicaltrialsarenotdesignedtotakeintoaccountthespecialconsiderationsneededwhentreatingtheelderlysuchasfunctionalstatus,comorbidities,polypharmacy,lifeexpectancy,andsocialsupport.Themajorityofavailabledataisbasedonretrospectivereviewsorsubsetanalysesoflargerstudieswheretheelderlyrepresentafractionofthestudiedpopulation.Thisreviewfocusesonthetoxicitiesandtolerabilityofcurrentstandardtherapiesfornoncolorectalgastrointestinalmalignancies,includinggastroesophageal,pancreatic,bileductandhepatocellularcancersintheelderly.Withcarefulpatientselectionandgeriatricassessmenttheelderlycansafelybenefitfromstandardtherapiesofferedtoyoungerpatients.
