Survival rates and tolerability of platinum-based chemotherapy regimens for elderly patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
BACKGROUND
The combination therapy for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with platinum-based treatment is well known, but its utility in elderly has not been explored systematically.


OBJECTIVE
To examine whether aging compromises survival or exacerbates toxicity in patients with advanced lung cancer receiving platinum-based treatment.


METHODS
We performed a nested case-control study in a cohort of chemotherapy naïve patients enrolled January 1998-December 2003. Cases were consecutive patients over 70 at diagnosis with stage III or IV NSCLC. Controls were a subset of patients under 70 years matched by stage and year in which they had been treated. All patients received Cisplatin (80 mg/m2) or Carboplatin (4-6 AUC), every 4 weeks, followed by Vinorelbine (30 mg/m2) for a maximum of six courses. The medical history, physical examination and tumor imaging evaluation were performed at baseline and then monthly. Survival was calculated by Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test was used for survival comparisons. Chi-squared test was used to compare side effects in the two groups.


RESULTS
A total of 419 patients were identified for the case-control study (205 elderly/214 young) with 3.6 cycles per patient, on average. The 2- and 3-year survival rates were 20.5% and 6.8% for elderly patients and 9.8% and 2.3% for younger patients (p=0.017 and 0.014, respectively for 2 and 3 years). The proportion of patients with adverse effects, either grade 3 or 4, was the same in both groups at 2 years (43.9% versus 43.9%; p=0.99).


CONCLUSIONS
Although elderly patients may self-select or be selected to be healthier, our findings suggest that elderly patients currently undergoing chemotherapy for lung cancer do as well or better than younger patients. Elderly age alone should not preclude patients from receiving platinum-based chemotherapy, since it seems well tolerated and effective in non-small-cell lung cancer among elderly patients.
Costa
Guilherme Jorge
GJ
Department of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo, UNIFESP-EPM, Brazil.
Fernandes
Ana Luisa Godoy
AL
Pereira
José Rodrigues
JR
Curtis
J Randall
JR
Santoro
Ilka Lopes
IL
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; 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* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017671:Platinum Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D000077235:Vinorelbine
D017671:Platinum Compounds; D014747:Vinblastine; D016190:Carboplatin; D002945:Cisplatin; D000077235:Vinorelbine