title: Advanced non-small-cell lung cancer in the elderly.
abstract: Systemic chemotherapy provides improvement in both survival and quality of life for patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Elderly patients have more comorbidities and tend to tolerate more poorly aggressive chemotherapy and radiation therapy than younger individuals. Our purpose in this article is to summarize recent studies of single-agent chemotherapy and combination regimens with cytotoxic or targeted therapies in the management of elderly patients with advanced NSCLC. We have reviewed the available evidence in the literature to gauge the results of therapy for elderly patients with lung cancer. We found that single-agent chemotherapy remains the standard of care for nonselected elderly patients. Retrospective analyses suggest that the efficacy of platinum-based combination chemotherapy is similar in fit older and younger patients, with increased but acceptable toxicity for elderly patients. Therefore, the outcomes in the fit elderly mirror results observed in younger patients, although toxicity is generally greater.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Lambros
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vamvakas
authors.forename: Emmanouel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Saloustros
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karampeazis
authors.forename: Vassilis
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Georgoulias
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*