title: Treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer in special populations.
abstract: The benefits of chemotherapy in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients remains, to some extent, restricted to younger patients with a good performance status (PS). It has long been assumed that chemotherapy is too toxic and of marginal benefit for elderly NSCLC patients and those with a PS of 2. Nevertheless, retrospective analyses and more recent prospective trials have suggested that such patients enjoy longer survival and a better quality of life when treated with chemotherapy. This article will review the data and discuss their clinical implications.
authors.affiliation: University of Miami, School of Medicine, Florida, USA. Rlilenba@salick.com
authors.forename: Rogerio C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Lilenbaum
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000077235:Vinorelbine
chemical_list: D003841:Deoxycytidine; D014747:Vinblastine; D016190:Carboplatin; D017239:Paclitaxel; D002945:Cisplatin; D000077235:Vinorelbine