title: [Drug therapy of advanced non-small cell lung cancer in the elderly].
abstract: About half of the elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) can not receive effective treatment due to the decreased organ function and complication. Monotherapies using the third generation new drugs have became a standard first-line therapy for NSCLC, as documented by prospective phase 3 clinical trials. Combined chemotherapies that contain platin and single agent are considered optional first- and second-line treatment for patients with good physical performance and few complication. The epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors may become a key therapeutic agent,while the role of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor monoclonal antibody remains unclear. More prospective phase 3 targeting at the elderly patients should be designed and conducted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Beijing Hospital, Beijing 100730, China. abincd2002@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ai
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D066246:ErbB Receptors