title: Etoposide in the treatment of elderly/poor-prognosis patients with small-cell lung cancer.
abstract: Survival rates for cancer have improved in recent decades, specifically for younger patients. However for those over 65, who account for over half of all cancer patients, mortality rates remain poor. In those with small-cell lung cancer the achievement of cure is possible in only a minority (5-10%). For the elderly and those with extensive disease we have found that the use of oral etoposide offers similar survival rates to more intensive regimens, with minimal side effects and hospitalisation. Thus the expansion of the elderly population mandates for more specific chemotherapeutic approaches in this group.
authors.affiliation: Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Dublin 7, Ireland.
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Carney
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Byrne
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D005047:Etoposide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D005047:Etoposide