title: Treatment outcome in performance status 2 advanced NSCLC patients administered platinum-based combination chemotherapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is no consensus regarding chemotherapy to patients with advanced NSCLC (ANSCLC) and performance status (PS) 2. Using data from a national multicenter study comparing two third-generation carboplatin-based regimens in ANSCLC patients, we evaluated the outcome of PS 2 patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The 123 PS 2 patients were compared to 309 PS 0/1 patients regarding survival, quality of life (QOL) and treatment toxicity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PS 2 patients had lower haemoglobin, lower global QOL and more pain, nausea/vomiting and dyspnea at inclusion. 68% of PS 2 patients received three chemotherapy courses vs. 85% in the PS 0/1 group (P<0.01). Median and 1-year survival were lower in the PS 2 group, 4.5 vs. 8.9 months and 10% vs. 37% (P<.01). More PS 2 patients needed blood transfusions (P=0.03) and hospitalization (P<0.01). In contrast, PS 2 patients had better relief of pain and dyspnea, and tended to a better global QOL and did not experience more leucopoenia, infections or bleeding.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite shorter survival, treatment toxicity was acceptable and PS 2 patients achieved better improvement of pain and dyspnea and tended to better global QOL when compared to PS 0/1 patients.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tromsø and Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Northern Norway, Norway. nina.helbekkmo@fagmed.uit.no
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Helbekkmo
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Aasebø
authors.forename: Stein H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Sundstrøm
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: von Plessen
authors.forename: Paal Fr
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Brunsvig
authors.forename: Roy M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Bremnes
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D000077235:Vinorelbine; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D003841:Deoxycytidine; D014747:Vinblastine; D016190:Carboplatin; D000077235:Vinorelbine; D000093542:Gemcitabine