Pharmacist-Led Deprescribing Halves Inappropriate Medications in Older Cancer Patients

This systematic review quantifies how pharmacist-driven deprescribing reduces potentially inappropriate medication exposure in older adults with cancer, while exposing a near-total absence of patient-centred outcome data.

deprescribingpolypharmacypotentially inappropriate medicationsSTOPP criteriaBeers criteriageriatric oncologyolder adultscancerclinical pharmacistcomprehensive geriatric assessmentsystematic reviewmeta-analysis Geriatrics / Geriatric Pharmacy

Background Information

Deprescribing cuts inappropriate medication use in cancer care for older adults.

Deprescribing potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) in older adults with cancer can reduce morbidity and mortality, but its effectiveness remains unclear. The review found that deprescribing interventions reduced PIM use with a pooled relative risk (RR) of 0.49 in a meta-analysis of three studies. Deprescribing in geriatric oncology is feasible and reduces PIM exposure, but more robust studies are needed to validate broader patient-centered outcomes. Deprescribing reduces PIMs in older adults with cancer but evidence gaps persist.

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Authors: Maleki S, Foo J, Zamani M, Mejia A, Soo WK, Turner JP, Kirkpatrick C

Citation: Maleki S, Foo J, Zamani M, et al. Deprescribing interventions in older adults with cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of geriatric oncology. 2026;18(1):104120. doi:10.1016/j.jgo.2026.104120

Article Links: PubMed · Journal / DOI

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Executive Summary

Study Design

Patient Population

Primary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes & Safety Profile

Pharmacist Implications

Clinical Pearls

Limitations

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