Integrating Cancer and Aging at Pitt

描述：(申请人描述)这项名为“在匹兹堡整合癌症和老龄化”的提案的目标是在匹兹堡大学癌症研究所内建立一个常备癌症和老龄化项目。癌症和老龄化计划的核心使命将是开发和测试干预措施，以改善患有癌症的老年人的健康状况。为了发展癌症与老龄化计划，在未来五年，我们将1)实施一系列旨在减少障碍和促进合作的活动，2)进行试验性转化研究，以更好地了解老年癌症患者的癌症免疫生物学，并应用真知灼见来开发更有效的治疗方法，3)收集、开发、评估和传播与老龄化有关的共同发病率、功能和癌症结局的指标，以及4)为患有癌症的老年人开发和测试有希望的医疗、行为和社会干预措施。我们将在机构优势的基础上，扩大在老龄化和癌症研讨会报告中确定的三个主要领域的合作研究：1)癌症和老龄化的免疫生物学转化研究，2)在与年龄相关的共发病背景下的治疗疗效和耐受性的临床试验，以及3)老年癌症患者的行为和社会问题。由于癌症护理计划不应取决于实际年龄，而应取决于预期寿命、耐受治疗能力和患者目标，我们设想开发一系列针对65岁及以上癌症患者的个人健康和功能状况的护理策略。为了进一步确定老龄化和癌症合作研究的障碍，并设计克服这些障碍的策略，我们计划在第一年与来自皮特大学的学者和临床实践的关键支持者、该地区的临床医生以及社区中的老年癌症幸存者和照顾者进行一系列互动。我们认为，成功的协作取决于我们是否有能力容纳和纳入每个潜在贡献者的观点、经验和优先事项。为了维持我们的支持者和我们的计划之间的反馈循环，我们建议成立常设的学术、临床和社区咨询小组。这项建议包括以下计划：1)一系列研讨会和务虚会，旨在吸引所有相关学科和支持者的代表，确定计划成功的可能障碍并实施克服这些障碍的战略，2)研讨会和会议，旨在促进癌症和老龄化方面的创新和合作研究，3)试点研究计划，以支持被认为具有高科学质量和与计划目标核心相关的初始项目，4)开发新的老龄化和癌症资源核心衡量标准。5)将老龄化问题纳入匹兹堡大学老龄研究所(UPIA)现有的相关计划和共享资源设施；6)将癌症问题纳入匹兹堡大学老龄研究所(UPIA)的主要计划。

DESCRIPTION: (Applicant's Description) The goal of this proposal, titled "Integrating Cancer and Aging at Pitt", is to establish a standing Cancer and Aging Program within the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute. The core mission of the Cancer and Aging Program will be to develop and test interventions to improve health outcomes in older persons with cancer. In order to develop the Cancer and Aging Program, over the next five years, we will 1) implement a series of activities designed to reduce barriers and promote collaboration, 2) perform pilot translational research studies to better understand the immunobiology of cancer in elderly patients and apply insights to develop more effective treatment, 3) collect, develop, evaluate and disseminate aging-relevant measures of co-morbidity, functioning and cancer outcomes, and 4) develop and test promising medical, behavioral and social interventions for older people with cancer. We will build on institutional strengths to expand collaborative research in three main areas identified in the Aging and Cancer Workshop Report; 1) translational research on immunobiology of cancer and aging, 2) clinical trials of treatment efficacy and tolerance in the context of age related co-morbidity and 3) behavioral and social issues in older cancer patients. Since cancer care planning should depend not on chronological age, but on life expectancy, ability to tolerate treatment, and patient goals, we envision developing a spectrum of care strategies tailored to the individual health and functional status of the cancer patient aged 65 and over. In order to further identify barriers to collaborative research on aging and cancer, and to design strategies to overcome them, we plan a first year series of interactions with critical constituencies from academics and clinical practice at Pitt, with clinicians from the region, and with older cancer survivors and caregivers in the community. We see successful collaboration as dependent on our ability to accommodate and incorporate each potential contributor's perspective, experience and priorities. In order to sustain a feedback loop between our constituencies and our Program, we propose standing academic, clinical and community advisory groups. This proposal includes plans for: 1) a series of workshops and retreats designed to engage representatives from all of the relevant disciplines and constituencies, identify possible barriers to the success of the Program and implement strategies to overcome them, 2) seminars and conferences designed to promote innovative and collaborative research in cancer and aging, 3) a pilot research program to support initial projects considered to be of high scientific quality and of central relevance to the goals of the Program, 4) development of a new Measurement in Aging and Cancer Resource Core, 5) the inclusion of aging issues into relevant existing programs and shared resource facilities of the UPCI and 6) inclusion of cancer issues into major programs of the University of Pittsburgh Institute on Aging (UPIA).