The government may soon draft new guidelines for cancer treatment in light of a recent study that suggests cancer drugs may be ineffective in elderly patients.

Tokyo-based National Cancer Center Japan (NCC) on Thursday released the findings of research showing a correlation between the efficacy of cancer drugs and patients' ages.

Masaharu Tanto, senior coordinator of the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, said that although the draft will have the new findings in mind, it won't be solely based on the results of the NCC study.