Evaluation of efficacy and safety of platinum-based doublet chemotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients aged 70 years or over / 肿瘤

ABSTRACT

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of platinum-based doublet chemotherapy for patients aged ≥70 years old with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: One hundred and sixty-seven patients with NSCLC at stage III/IV were divided into three groups patients aged ≥70 years old receiving platinum-based doublet chemotherapy (group A), patients aged ≥70 years old receiving best supportive care (group B) and patients aged <70 years old receiving platinum-based doublet chemotherapy (group C). At least two cycles of chemotherapy were required. The short-term response and the adverse effects were observed. All patients were followed up, and the progression-free survival (PFS) and the overall survival (OS) were calculated. Results: There were no significant differences in short-term response rate (33.3% vs 35.5%, P=0.811), median PFS (124 d vs 140 d, P=0.122) and median survival (337 d vs 367 d, P=0.173) between group A and group C. The median PFS and median survival of group B were 87 d and 218 d, respectively, which were both shorter than those of group A and group C (P<0.05). The one-year survival rate (42% vs 53%) and the rate of Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) score improvement (41% vs 48%) after chemotherapy between group A and group C were not significantly different, but the group B had a lower one-year survival rate (15%) and a lower ECOG PS score improvement rate (13%) as compared with group A and group C (P<0.05). The incidence rates of grade III/IV leukopenia and nausea/vomiting were similar in group A and group C. Conclusion: The elderly patients (≥70 years old) with advanced NSCLC, whose ECOG PS score was ≤2, may benefit from the platinum-based doublet chemotherapy, and the short-term response, survival and the improvement in life quality of these patients were similar to the patients younger than 70 years old with advanced NSCLC receiving the same chemotherapy. The side effects of chemotherapy occurred in the elderly and non-elderly patients were also similar. Copyright© 2011 by TUMOR.