title: Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors in elderly patients with non-small cell lung cancer.
abstract: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. At diagnosis, half of the patients are over 70 years of age, and most present with advanced disease, for which chemotherapy is recommended as first-line treatment. However, the benefit from such therapy is modest and it is at times poorly tolerated. The discovery of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) has significantly impacted the treatment of patients with EGFR mutation-positive advanced NSCLC. These novel agents demonstrate efficacy and a favorably mild toxicity profile. Despite limited data in elderly patients, the largest subpopulation in NSCLC, EGFR-TKIs are considered the standard of care therapy for advanced EGFR-positive disease in the elderly. In this review, we seek to compile the available data about the EGFR-TKIs use in elderly patients with advanced NSCLC, with the hope to better understand its role in this major yet, underrepresented, group of patients.
authors.affiliation: a 1 Department of Medicine, Staten Island University Hospital, North Shore - LIJ Health System, Staten Island, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Mazen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zaarour
authors.affiliation: a 1 Department of Medicine, Staten Island University Hospital, North Shore - LIJ Health System, Staten Island, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Chanudi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weerasinghe
authors.affiliation: a 1 Department of Medicine, Staten Island University Hospital, North Shore - LIJ Health System, Staten Island, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Bassel
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nazha
authors.affiliation: b 2 Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Staten Island University Hospital, North Shore - LIJ Health System, Staten Island, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Samer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.affiliation: b 2 Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Staten Island University Hospital, North Shore - LIJ Health System, Staten Island, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Jean-Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Atallah
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D009154:Mutation; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D066246:ErbB Receptors
keywords: EGFR-TKIs; afatinib; elderly; erlotinib; gefitinib; non-small cell lung cancer