Chemotherapy for small cell lung cancer in patients over 80 years old.
BACKGROUND
Elderly cancer patients sometimes are not considered candidates for standard chemotherapy. We evaluated the efficacy of chemotherapy for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) in patients aged over 80 years old.


METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed the records of 10 SCLC patients over 80 years old. Six of them had received carboplatin and etoposide intravenously, two had etoposide orally, and two had only supportive care.


RESULTS
Seven of the 8 patients treated with chemotherapy responded partially and the median survival time was 281 days. Despite the toxicity of the chemotherapy, the performance status was improved in 5 out of 8 treated patients and the cancer-related symptom was relieved in all treated patients for at least one month during and/or after chemotherapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Chemotherapy is indicated for SCLC patients even aged over 80 years. The quality of life is improved by chemotherapy, although the survival time may not be prolonged significantly.
Ueda
Hitoshi
H
Department of Clinical Research, National Minami-Fukuoka Chest Hospital 4-39-1, Yakatabaru, Minami-ku, Fukuoka, 811-1394, Japan.
Kuwahara
Motonao
M
Sakada
Takashi
T
Motohiro
Akira
A
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D010166:Palliative Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D005047:Etoposide; D016190:Carboplatin