title: The effects of comorbidity and age on RTOG study enrollment in Stage III non-small cell lung cancer patients who are eligible for RTOG studies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the influence of measured comorbidity in Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) combined modality therapy (CMT) study enrollment in Stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and seventy-one patients with a Karnofsky Performance Score ≥70 and clinical Stage III NSCLC were analyzed retrospectively for comorbidity, RTOG study eligibility, and enrollment at initial consultation. Effect of comorbidity scores (Cumulative Illness Rating Scale) were tested on patient selection for CMT, RTOG enrollment, and overall survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Comorbidity (Grade 4; p < 0.005) and use of radiation only (p ≤ 0.001) were associated with inferior survival independent of other factors. Patient selection for CMT was affected by age (≥70, p < 0.001), comorbidity (severity index [SI] > 2, p = 0.001), and weight loss (>5%, p = 0.001). Thirty-three patients (19%) were enrolled in a CMT RTOG study (Group 1). Forty-nine patients (29%) were eligible but not enrolled (Group 2), and 57 (33%) were ineligible (Group 3). The most common ineligibility reasons were weight loss (67%) and comorbidity in the exclusion criteria of the RTOG studies (63%). Group 1 patients were the youngest (p = 0.02), with the lowest comorbidity scores (p < 0.001) and SI (p < 0.001) compared with Groups 2 and 3. Group 3 patients were the oldest with the most unfavorable comorbidity profile. Comorbidity scores (SI >2; p = 0.006) and age (≥70; p = 0.05) were independent factors influencing RTOG study enrollment in patients meeting study eligibility requirements (Groups 1 and 2).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Comorbidity scales could be useful in stratification of patients in advanced lung cancer trials and interpretation of results particularly regarding the elderly population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA. sfirat@mcw.edu
authors.forename: Selim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Firat
authors.forename: Roger W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Byhardt
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gore
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D006801:Humans; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018579:Patient Selection; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015996:Survival Rate; D015431:Weight Loss