title: Results of combined-modality therapy for limited-stage small cell lung carcinoma in the elderly.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A Phase III trial was conducted by the North Central Cancer Treatment Group to determine whether chemotherapy (etoposide and cisplatin) plus either twice-daily radiotherapy (BIDRT) or once-daily radiotherapy (QDRT) resulted in a better outcome for patients with limited-stage small cell lung carcinoma (LD-SCLC). No difference in survival was identified between the two arms. The current analysis examined the relation between age and outcome for patients treated during this trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  The current study included 263 patients with LD-SCLC and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of < or = 2 who were randomized to receive QDRT or split-course BIDRT. The outcomes of the 209 (79%) younger patients (age < 70 years old) were compared with the 54 (21%) elderly patients (age > or = 70 years old).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Elderly patients presented with significantly greater weight loss and poorer performance status. The 2-year and 5-year survival rates were 48% and 22% for younger patients compared with 33% and 17% for older patients (P = 0.14). One specific toxicity (i.e., Grade > or = 4 pneumonitis [according to National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria]) occurred in 0% of those patients age < 70 years compared with 6% of older patients (P = 0.008). Grade 5 toxicity occurred in 1 of 209 (0.5%) patients age < 70 years compared with 3 of 54 (5.6%) older patients (P = 0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite having more weight loss, poorer performance status, increased pulmonary toxicity, and more deaths due to treatment, survival was not found to be significantly worse in older individuals. Fit elderly patients with LD-SCLC can receive combined-modality therapy with the expectation of relatively favorable long-term survival. Future research should focus on ways to decrease toxicity especially in the elderly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota, USA. sschild@mayo.edu
authors.forename: Steven E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Schild
authors.forename: Philip J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Stella
authors.forename: Burke J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.forename: Sumithra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mandrekar
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bonner
authors.forename: William L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: McGinnis
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Mailliard
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Krook
authors.forename: Richard L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Deming
authors.forename: Alex A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Adjei
authors.forename: Aminah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jatoi
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Jett
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005047:Etoposide; D002945:Cisplatin