Anti-Cancer Therapy of Advanced Lung Cancer in Elderly Patients / 대한내과학회지

ABSTRACT

Lung cancer is not only the most common cancer of the elderly but is also the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in Korea. Therefore, the elderly form a large subgroup of patients with advanced lung cancer. Aging is associated with co-morbidities, poor performance status, and impaired organ function. These problems can cause uncertainty when selecting the optimal treatment for advanced lung cancer, and some elderly patients could be undertreated. Patients with non-squamous histology lung cancer, regardless of age or performance status, should be tested for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations; patients with EGFR mutations such as del 19 or L858R are able to receive EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors. The treatment options for elderly patients with lung cancer include best supportive care, single agent chemotherapy, platinum-based doublet chemotherapy, and targeted therapy. The optimum therapeutic option for elderly individuals with advanced lung cancer must be selected carefully, taking into account both the risks and benefits.