title: Gemcitabine as single agent therapy in advanced non small cell lung cancer and quality of life in the elderly.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study is to test the efficacy of gemcitabine as single agent therapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer in the elderly by the evaluation of the clinical response, the survival increase and the quality of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen patients (age >65 years) with a PS >2, bearing an advanced non-small cell lung cancer (IIIb-IV) not treated with chemotherapy before, were charged between December 1996 and December 1998. Sixteen patients were treated with gemcitabine at the dose of 1000 mg/mq 1-8-15 every 28 days. CT scan, X-rays and skeletal scintigraphy were used in the evaluation of the therapeutic response. The toxicity was estimated by following WHO indexes. The quality of life and the modification of the specific symptoms were estimated by particular tests (Spitzer Index, IADL, EORTC-LC13).
  
  
  RESULTS
  One complete response (6%), 4 partial responses (25%), 7 cases of illness stabilization (43%), 4 cases of illness progression, were shown. One year of survival was found in 43% of cases with a 14 week of therapeutic response and a global survival ratio of 12.4 weeks. Only 2 cases (12.5) of medium grade G3-leucopenia were found. All patients improved their quality of life (IADL and Spitzer indexes) with reduction of symptoms, (EORTC-LC13) and increase of self-agin and relationships.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The effectiveness of gemcitabine as single agent therapy as not yet been tested due to the scanty number of patients, nevertheless it must be considered in relation to the improvement of the patient s quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Pathology, Medical Oncology Unit, Umberto I Polyclinic, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bianco
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Di Girolamo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pignatelli
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Speranza
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Florio
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gemma
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Girolami
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vietri
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marchei
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000093542:Gemcitabine