Treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer with vinorelbine in elderly Thai patients.
The present study evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of vinorelbine as single chemotherapy for elderly Thai patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Twenty-eight patients with no prior chemotherapy and ECOG performance status of 0-2 were enrolled in the study. There were 20 males and 8 females with a median age of 72 years, and the median ECOG performance status was 1. Eight cases were stage IIIB and 20 cases were stage IV. Fourteen cases were adenocarcinoma, 13 were squamous cell and one was large cell NSCLC. These patients received vinorelbine 25 mg/m2 on day 1 and 8. This treatment produced partial response in 5 of 25 evaluable patients (20%). Median survival time was 40 weeks. Hematologic toxicity caused 9% grade 3 anemia, 1.5% grade 4 neutropenia and 0.5% grade 4 neutropenia.


CONCLUSIONS
Chemotherapy is a valuable treatment option for elderly patients with advanced NSCLC. Single agent vinorelbine is able to induce an overall response with a low toxicity level in elderly Thai patients with advanced NSCLC.
Sorraritchingchai
Sirikul
S
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Thailand.
Thongprasert
Sumitra
S
Charoentum
Chaiyuth
C
Chewasakulyong
Busayamas
B
Moonprakan
Suttirak
S
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D013785:Thailand; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077235:Vinorelbine
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D014747:Vinblastine; D000077235:Vinorelbine