Geriatric oncology is at a turning point. With an aging population, integrating geriatric principles into oncology care is more critical than ever. Dr Grant Williams, President of the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG), is leading efforts to bridge the gap between research and real-world practice. In this interview, he discusses the field’s biggest challenges, exciting new research and key initiatives in education, training and policy. From implementing geriatric assessments to global advocacy, Dr Williams outlines his vision for a future where personalized, age-inclusive cancer care becomes the standard worldwide.
Q1. What are your main goals for your presidency (2024–2026)?
I believe geriatric oncology is at a critical inflection point. Over the past two to three decades, the field has been steadily growing, and now we have high-level evidence from randomized controlled trials demonstrating the benefits of core geriatric oncology principles – frailty assessment, comprehensive geriatric assessments and personalized care planning.
With this solid evidence base, the next step is widespread dissemination and implementation. Despite clear guidelines and strong research, these approaches are still underutilized in routine clinical care worldwide. My presidency, and the coming decade more broadly, will focus on ensuring these principles reach more patients – not just those at major centers of excellence, but across the entire healthcare landscape.
From an organizational standpoint, sustainability is another key focus. Like any professional society, we need to ensure long-term viability by balancing cost-cutting with revenue growth, allowing us to continue advancing the field for years to come.
Q2. What are the biggest challenges in geriatric oncology today?
One of the field’s greatest strengths is also its biggest challenge: geriatric oncology isn’t a niche specialty – it’s central to oncology as a whole. Currently, about two-thirds of cancer diagnoses occur in patients over 65. With shifting demographics, particularly in the US and Europe, that number is expected to rise to 70% in the near future.
This means we’re not just asking oncology clinics to adopt new strategies for a small subset of patients – we’re advocating for a complete paradigm shift in how oncology care is delivered. Implementing these approaches on a large scale without overburdening healthcare providers and systems is a major challenge. We need streamlined, practical tools that integrate seamlessly into everyday clinical workflows. Scaling up these efforts efficiently is crucial to ensuring that older adults with cancer receive optimal care.
Q3. What recent research and innovations in cancer treatment are you most excited about?
The recent wave of randomized controlled trials in geriatric oncology has been a game-changer. In just the past two to three years, we’ve seen multiple landmark studies proving that personalized care – guided by geriatric assessments – can reduce toxicities, hospitalizations and adverse events while improving quality of life.
These findings have driven the development of new guidelines and reinforced the importance of integrating geriatrics into oncology practice. The data speaks for itself, and it’s encouraging to see this momentum in the field. Now, the challenge is translating this evidence into routine clinical practice.
Q4: What initiatives in education, training and policy will SIOG prioritize?
Education is a cornerstone of our mission. We have two flagship training programs:
- Research Masterclass on Geriatric Oncology, which is held in Paris on 19th–21st March 2025, is geared toward researchers. It focuses on study design, intervention development, and outcome measures specific to older adults. While we’ve made great strides in research, there are still many unanswered questions, and training the next generation to conduct high-quality studies is essential.
- Advanced Course – Treviso, Italy, typically held in the summer, is more clinically focused. It helps participants develop geriatric oncology programs, conduct assessments, and translate findings into patient care.
- Our Annual Meeting includes hands-on workshops, such as geriatric assessment training, to ensure that oncologists can apply these concepts in their daily practice.
On the policy front, we’ve made progress in global advocacy. A few years ago, we held a summit at the UN, and we’ve been strengthening collaborations with the World Health Organization. Our goal is to integrate personalized care for older adults into international oncology frameworks, ensuring that these principles are recognized and prioritized on a global scale.
Q5. What trends do you see shaping the future of geriatric oncology?
While research gaps remain, the field’s next big frontier is dissemination and implementation. We now have evidence proving that geriatric oncology practices improve patient outcomes. However, there’s a growing disconnect between what we know is best care and what is actually being delivered.
Bridging this gap requires a shift in education, clinical training, and implementation research. We need to equip oncologists with the knowledge and practical tools to make geriatric assessments a routine part of cancer care. Encouragingly, there’s also emerging data showing that these approaches can reduce healthcare costs – a compelling argument for policymakers and health systems.
It’s an exciting time for geriatric oncology. We’ve moved beyond proving that these strategies work; now, we need to ensure they’re adopted worldwide. The next five to ten years will be critical in making that a reality.
About Grant Williams
“As both a Geriatrician and Medical Oncologist, my research and clinical care bridges the fields of geriatrics and oncology and is focused on refining treatment selection and improving the outcomes of older adults with cancer. My research involves the use of geriatric assessment and novel biomarkers, such molecular markers of aging and body composition, to better evaluate functional age and developing interventional clinical trials to improve the tolerance and outcomes of older adults undergoing cancer treatment. After spending nearly a decade of my career within academics, I have shifted to a community practice medical oncologist position within the heart of the Deep South of the US. In addition to my ongoing clinical role within this practice, I’m further developing community based research within under-served and minority populations, working within the NCORP research network as a site PI of the Gulf South Minority Underserved NCORP and as part of the Wake Forest NCORP Research Base.”
About SIOG
Founded in 2000, the International Society of Geriatric Oncology, commonly referred to by its French acronym SIOG (Société Internationale d’Oncologie Gériatrique), is an international multidisciplinary network of healthcare professionals treating older cancer patients. The network spans over 80 countries and includes geriatricians, medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists, anaesthesiologists, as well as nursing and allied health professionals.
Disclosure: This short article was prepared by touchONCOLOGY in collaboration with the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG). No fees or funding were associated with its publication. Grant Williams discloses advisory board participation for AstraZeneca; has received honoraria/honorarium from Cardinal Health and has been a speaker’s bureau participant with Takeda.
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