Potential role of molecularly targeted therapy in the management of advanced nonsmall cell lung carcinoma in the elderly.
BACKGROUND
More than 50% of all lung carcinoma cases are diagnosed in patients age > 65 years, and approximately 30% are diagnosed in patients age > 70 years. Elderly patients do not tolerate chemotherapy as well as their younger counterparts do, primarily because of the increased prevalence of comorbid conditions and organ failure. Thus, at present, the majority of elderly patients with malignant disease do not receive aggressive chemotherapy. For such elderly patients, alternatives to conventional chemotherapy, such as novel molecularly targeted therapy regimens, are of interest.


METHODS
The current review summarizes contemporary approaches to and recent advances in the treatment of elderly patients with nonsmall cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) and offers perspectives on the future of molecularly targeted therapy in this population. Inhibitors of epidermal growth factor receptor, vascular endothelial growth factor, and cyclooxygenase-2 are discussed in the current report, with such inhibitors being, in our opinion, among the best candidates for clinical development in the setting of interest.


RESULTS
Novel biologic agents with putative activity against advanced NSCLC are at various stages of clinical development. Some of these agents have yielded benefits in terms of disease-related symptom reduction, quality of life, and survival. For elderly patients, the potential advantages of such agents include improved tolerability compared with conventional chemotherapy. This feature also makes these novel agents attractive alternatives for younger patients who cannot tolerate or are reluctant to receive conventional chemotherapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Current studies are investigating the safety and efficacy of these novel biologic agents administered alone, in combination with other noncytotoxic agents, and in combination with conventional chemotherapy. These studies will help elucidate the role of targeted therapy in the management of elderly patients with advanced NSCLC.
Gridelli
Cesare
C
Division of Medical Oncology, San Giuseppe Moscati Hospital, Avellino, Italy. cgridelli@libero.it
Massarelli
Erminia
E
Maione
Paolo
P
Rossi
Antonio
A
Herbst
Roy S
RS
Onn
Amir
A
Ciardiello
Fortunato
F
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D066246:ErbB Receptors