Gemcitabine as single agent in the treatment of elderly patients with advanced non small cell lung cancer.
BACKGROUND
In phase II trials gemicitabine proved to be an active agent in NSCLC, producing a clinical benefit, often higher than response rate.


METHODS
We assessed the impact of gemcitabine treatment on response rate and quality of life in 21 untreated elderly patients (aged > 70 years) with NSCLC. Gemcitabine (1250 mg/sm) was administered days 1-8 every 21 days. Response and toxicity were analyzed according to WHO criteria. The assessment of quality of life was performed by analysing a disease symptom related questionnaire completed by the patient.


RESULTS
All the patients were evaluable: we found 7 PR (33%), 5 SD (24%) and 9 PD; the median duration of response was 24 weeks; the median overall survival 32 weeks; WHO grade 2 leukopenia (in 4 patients) and thrombocytopenia (grade 3 in 1 patient and grade 2 in two patients) were the main toxic effects. A clinical benefit was demonstrated in all 12 patients with PR or SD and in 3 patients with PD.


CONCLUSIONS
These data confirm that gemcitabine is a well tolerated and active therapeutic approach in elderly non small cell lung cancer patients.
Istituto di Oncologia, Università degli Studi di Messina, Italy.
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D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018287:Carcinoma, Large Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015996:Survival Rate; D000093542:Gemcitabine
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000093542:Gemcitabine