RESUMEN
Objective To observe the efficacy,toxic side effects, survival time and quality of life (QOL) of vinorelbine and vinorelbine plus carboplatin in elderly patients with stage Ⅲ b/Ⅳ non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).Methods Eighty patients aged 65 years or over with stage Ⅲ b/Ⅳ non-small cell lung cancer were randomly divided into two groups.One group was treated with vinorelbine (vinorelbine 25 mg/m2 iv d1,8, repeated every 21 days), the other group was treated with vinorelbine plus carboplatin(vinorelbine 25 mg/m2 iv at day 1 and 8 and earboplatin AUC5 iv at day 1, repeated every 21 days).Results The response rate(RR), median survival time(MST) and 1-year survival rate were 35.0%, 9.0 months and 35.0% in vinorelbine group and were 42.5%, 10.0 months and 37.5% in vinorelbine plus carboplatin group respectively.There was no significant difference between two groups(χ2 =0.296,P=0.586).The incidences of Ⅲ-Ⅳ degree granulocytopenia (χ2 =7.168,P=0.014), Ⅲ-Ⅳ degree thrombocytopenia (χ2 = 5.165,P=0.048)and Ⅲ-Ⅳ degree nausea and vomiting (χ2 =6.275, P =0.025) were significantly higher in the combined chemotherapy group than in the vinorelbine treatment group.The scores of lung cancer symptom scale (LCSS) of appetite loss(χ2 =2.600,P=0.011), fatigue(χ2 =3.169,P=0.002) and pain(χ2 =2.257,P=0.027) were more higher in the vinorelbine treatment group than in the combined chemotherapy group.Conclusions Vinorelbine regimen is effective, well tolerated and more favorable for the elderly NSCLC patients.