title: Carboplatin and gemcitabine in first-line treatment of elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer: data from a retrospective study.
abstract: We retrospectively evaluated elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with carboplatin (AUC 4-5) and gemcitabine (1,000-1,200 mg/m²). Thirty-six patients with performance Status (pS) 0-1 and median age 73 (range 70-78 years) were considered. Histology was squamous cell carcinoma (8 patients), adenocarcinoma (22) and NSCLC not otherwise specified (6). 149 cycles of chemotherapy were administered with a median of 3 per patient (range 3-6). Grade 3 non-hematologic toxicities were dyspnea (1 patient) and fever (1). Grade 3/4 hematologic toxicities were anemia (6), neutropenia (6) and thrombocytopenia (10), with dose reduction required in 13 patients. The overall disease control rate was 44.4%. We recorded no complete response, 8 partial response, 8 stable disease and 20 progressive disease. After a medium follow-up of 11 months, median progression- free survival and median survival were 5 and 11 months, respectively. Carboplatin and gemcitabine is a safe and active regimen in elderly advanced NSCLC patients with good PS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Isitiuto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori, Meldola, Italy. g.genestreti@irst.emr.it
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Genestreti
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Giovannini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frizziero
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maglie
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sanna
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cingarlini
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Molino
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Piciucchi
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Cetto
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santo
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; 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*; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D003841:Deoxycytidine; D016190:Carboplatin; D000093542:Gemcitabine