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A retrospective analysis comparing the safety and efficacy of chemotherapy in elderly and non‐elderly non‐small‐cell lung cancer patients
Author(s) -
Tsubata Yukari,
Honda Takeshi,
Okimoto Tamio,
Miura Kiyotaka,
Karino Fumi,
Iwamoto Shinichi,
Suzuki Taeko,
Hamaguchi Shunichi,
Kanda Hibiki,
Sutani Akihisa,
Kuraki Takashige,
Isobe Takeshi
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
geriatrics and gerontology international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.823
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1447-0594
pISSN - 1444-1586
DOI - 10.1111/j.1447-0594.2011.00803.x
Subject(s) - medicine , regimen , retrospective cohort study , lung cancer , chemotherapy , performance status , population , chemotherapy regimen , toxicity , oncology , surgery , environmental health
Aim: The number of elderly patients with non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is increasing in Japan. We retrospectively analyzed and compared the safety and efficacy of chemotherapy in elderly and non‐elderly NSCLC patients who received chemotherapy at Shimane University Hospital. Methods: We carried out a retrospective analysis of survival in a series of 112 NSCLC patients treated from 2004 through 2009. We compared the data from the elderly group (≥70 years‐of‐age, 56 patients) with the non‐elderly group (<70 years‐of‐age, 56 patients) who had similar characteristics, such as sex and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status. We analyzed the patient characteristics, therapeutic regimen, dose intensity, toxicity and survival time in both groups. Results: The patient characteristics were comparable between the two groups; however, there was a significant difference between the choice of first‐line therapeutic regimen. A platinum‐doublet regimen was more frequently used in the non‐elderly population (39.3% vs 64.3% for the elderly patients vs the non‐elderly patients, respectively; P < 0.01), whereas single agents and epidermal growth factor receptor‐tyrosine kinase inhibitors were more frequent in the elderly population (26.8% vs 10.7%, 19.6% vs 7.1%; P < 0.05, respectively). The relative dose intensity was approximately 80% or higher for all regimens, and toxicity was acceptable. The median survival time was 24.4 months and 18.6 months in the elderly and non‐elderly groups, respectively. Conclusion: This retrospective study suggests that elderly patients can safely receive effective chemotherapy similar to non‐elderly patients under careful observation and management. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2012; 12: 499–505.