Cancer Research and Treatment

Special Article

Korean Practical Guidelines for Geriatric Assessment and Management of Older Adults with Cancer: A Korean Cancer Association Guideline for Geriatric Oncology: Minsu Kang, Jeonghyun Kang, Changhoon Song, Heung-Kwon Oh, Hong Chung, Ilhak Lee, Jae Hung Jung, Jae Hyun Jeon, Eunjin Jeong, Jeong Rim Koh, Jung Hye Kwon, Jung-Yeon Choi, Kidong Kim, Kwangmin Kim, Kyung Hyun Moon, Minkyu Jung, Se Jin Hong, Su-Jin Koh, Sukki Cho, Suzy Kim, Yun-Gyoo Lee, Miyoung Choi, Dong Ah Park, Mi Ah Han, In Gyu Hwang, Jin Won Kim, Jee Hyun Kim; Cancer Res Treat. 2026;58(4):1037-1053. Published online February 19, 2026; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4143/crt.2025.1283

Abstract PDF PubReader ePub: The Korean Cancer Association’s clinical practice guidelines for geriatric oncology provide an evidence-based, multidisciplinary framework to optimize cancer care for the growing population of older adults. Geriatric assessment (GA) identifies multidimensional vulnerabilities often missed by standard performance measures, providing critical information to guide individualized treatment planning. This guideline recommends using validated geriatric screening tools, life expectancy prediction models, and toxicity risk calculators to support risk stratification and decision-making. By integrating GA-based multidisciplinary interventions and shared decision-making into clinical practice, clinicians can avoid both overtreatment and undertreatment, reduce treatment-related toxicity, and potentially enhance quality of life. Although the certainty of evidence for most recommendations ranged from very low to low, the panel reached a consensus to provide conditional recommendations. This decision reflects the judgment that the clinical benefits—specifically in reducing treatment-related toxicity and identifying vulnerabilities—outweigh the limitations of current evidence, addressing the urgent need for standardized geriatric care in Korea. Ultimately, these guidelines aim to support individualized, patient-centered care and serve as a practical foundation for clinical and educational applications within the Korean healthcare system.

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Original Article

General

Presentation of Benefits and Harms in Cancer Screening Guidelines for Koreans: A Systematic Review: Mi Ah Han, Hunju Lee, Kwangmin Kim, Seong Jung Kim, Eu Chang Hwang, Jae Hung Jung; Cancer Res Treat. 2025;57(4):923-931. Published online March 27, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4143/crt.2024.1151

Abstract PDF Supplementary Material PubReader ePub: Purpose
This study systematically reviewed cancer screening guidelines for the Korean population to evaluate the benefits and harms of the recommended cancer screening practices.
Materials and Methods
We searched international electronic databases from inception to July 2023. Two reviewers independently conducted reference screening and data extraction. Data were extracted based on recommendations from each guideline and presentation of benefits and harms. General characteristics of the cancer screening guidelines, including cancer type, recommended screening methods, certainty of evidence, were collected. Moreover, we obtained key information on the benefits and harms of screening interventions, including the quantification of their relative and absolute effects.
Results
Fifteen recommendations were identified for the use of interventions for the early detection of stomach, liver, colorectal, breast, cervical, and lung cancers in nine guidelines published between 2011 and 2015. Seven guidelines collected evidence through de novo systematic reviews. Eight guidelines presented the certainty of evidence and strength of recommendations. Benefits are presented as relative risks, and harms are presented as absolute risks. Six recommendations presented the absolute effects of both benefits and harms (comparable); eight presented them unevenly, including quantifying benefits relatively but presenting harms as absolute measures (asymmetric); and one presented neither benefits nor harms (incomplete).
Conclusion
More than half of guidelines fail to present the benefits and harms of screening in a balanced manner. To enable users and beneficiaries make informed decisions based on evidence, the benefits and harms supporting recommendations should be given in a transparent and balanced manner.

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