Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40230321›Full record

ArticleActa oncologica (Stockholm, Sweden)2025

Quality of life in older patients with cancer and related unmet needs: a scoping review.

Franziska Springer, Ayumu Matsuoka, Kyoko Obama, Anja Mehnert-Theuerkauf, Yosuke Uchitomi, Maiko Fujimori

Abstract readScoping Review
In one paragraph

Article in Acta oncologica (Stockholm, Sweden), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
11citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

11 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Symptom burden in cancer survivorship: insights from a survivorship program's patient-reported outcomes database.Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation · 2026
    Article
  6. A Case of PrimaryCurrent oncology (Toronto, Ont.) · 2026
    Article
  7. Predicting 1-year mortality in older cancer patients: performance of G8, SPPB, and IF-VIG in the PROFIT Study.The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences · 2026
    Article
  8. Review
  9. Article
  10. Review
  11. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Franziska SpringerDepartment of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Comprehensive Cancer Center Central Germany (CCCG), University Medical Center Leipzig, Germany.
Ayumu MatsuokaDivision of Survivorship Research, National Cancer Center, Institute for Cancer Control, Tokyo, Japan.
Kyoko ObamaDivision of Survivorship Research, National Cancer Center, Institute for Cancer Control, Tokyo, Japan.
Anja Mehnert-TheuerkaufDepartment of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Comprehensive Cancer Center Central Germany (CCCG), University Medical Center Leipzig, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-6872-9805
Yosuke UchitomiDepartment of Cancer Survivorship and Digital Medicine, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Maiko FujimoriDivision of Survivorship Research, National Cancer Center, Institute for Cancer Control, Tokyo, Japan. mfujimor@ncc.go.jp.ORCID 0000-0003-1639-3390

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundOlder patients form the largest group of cancer patients yet remain underrepresented in clinical research. This scoping review aims to synthesize findings on quality of life (QoL) in older adults with cancer, comparing them to younger counterparts and older individuals without cancer, and identifying associated factors.

methodsPubMed and PsychINFO databases were searched for articles published until January 2024. Studies were included with exclusively older adults with cancer (≥ 65 years), age-mixed samples (mean/median ≥ 70 years), or that report results separately for older and younger adults with cancer. Out of 6, 397 identified studies, 87 met the inclusion criteria.

resultsMost studies were cross-sectional, conducted in 14 countries with a mean age of 74.2 years. Physical QoL (PQoL) demonstrates an age-related decline, primarily influenced by comorbidity burden, physical activity, and lifestyle. In contrast, mental QoL (MQoL) remained stable or increased with advancing age, reflecting resilience and effective coping by older patients. While cognitive and role functioning tended to show stable or declining values with age, findings regarding social functioning were mixed. Socioeconomic factors, e.g. education, income, or marital status, mainly impacted MQoL, as well as other QoL domains. Symptom management and social support represent unmet needs that contribute to QoL impairments. Older adults with cancer underreport symptoms they perceive as normal for their age, experience ageism in healthcare, and reduced social participation.

interpretationComprehensive, multidisciplinary cancer care is essential for older adults with cancer, focusing on the prevention of functional health decline, geriatric assessment, socioeconomic health disparities, and enhancing symptom management.

Indexed as

Health Services Needs and DemandNeoplasmsQuality of LifeAgedAged, 80 and overAge FactorsCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansSocial SupportSocioeconomic Factors

Identifiers

PMID40230321
PMCPMC12012652

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.