title: Challenges in defining and identifying patients with non-small cell lung cancer and poor performance status.
abstract: Performance status (PS), a subjective measure of the functional status of a patient with cancer and his or her ability to perform normal activities, is influenced both by tumor-related and by comorbidity-related factors. It is a reliable independent prognostic indicator for survival in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Patients with a poor PS (PS2) constitute up to 30% to 40% of the population of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer, yet they are underrepresented in clinical trials. These patients are heterogeneous, which makes it challenging to use their PS scores alone to guide their therapy. A greater understanding of PS scores and the factors that affect them can be gained through PS2-specific clinical trials, which can lead to the development of better PS instruments to aid in making therapeutic decisions.
authors.affiliation: University of Colorado Cancer Center, 12801 East 17th Avenue, Room L18-8122, Aurora, CO 80010, USA. Karen.Kelly@UCHSC.edu
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kelly
mesh_terms: D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011379:Prognosis