Frailty and Cancer

Frailty is common in cancer patients, regardless of age. The authors explore the biological mechanisms which include cancer-specific factors, factors related to the biology of aging common in frailty and cancer biology, and the cancer treatment-related contributions. We dive into the prevalence of frailty in cancer patients including the most common cancer types among men and women. We also explore the many consequences of frailty as related to the outcomes of the various treatment modalities-surgery, systemic medical therapy, and radiotherapy. We examine the evidence base and offer recommendations for the best frailty assessment tool to use in the cancer patient and review the treatment strategies of those with frailty. Finally, we discuss research priorities.