Position paper by the UKCCCR Elderly Cancer Patients in Clinical Trials Working Group

Following discussions at the UKCCCR Trials Committee in 1995, a decision was taken during early 1996 to set up a Working Group to consider the management of elderly cancer patients and their entry into clinical trials. This decision was subsequently endorsed by the Main Committee of the UKCCCR. Dr Peter Harper (Guy’s Hospital, London) kindly agreed to chair the Group and the other members were then recruited (see below). The Group met for the first time in July 1996 and on five further occasions up until October 1997. This short paper summarizes the proceedings to date.