Gemcitabine Plus Platinum Combination Chemotherapy for Elderly Patients with Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: A Retrospective Analysis.
- Author:
Sang Hoon CHUN
1
;
Ji Eun LEE
;
Mi Hee PARK
;
Jin Hyoung KANG
;
Young Kyoon KIM
;
Young Pil WANG
;
Jae Kil PARK
;
Hoon Kyo KIM
Author Information
1. Division of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. jinkang@catholic.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Non-small-cell lung carcinoma;
Aged;
Gemcitabine;
Platinum;
Drug therapy
- MeSH:
Aged;
Carboplatin;
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung;
Cisplatin;
Comorbidity;
Deoxycytidine;
Disease-Free Survival;
Drug Therapy, Combination;
Humans;
Lung;
Lung Neoplasms;
Platinum;
Retrospective Studies;
Weight Loss
- From:Cancer Research and Treatment
2011;43(4):217-224
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: This study aimed to analyze the efficacy and toxicity of gemcitabine plus platinum chemotherapy for patients aged 70 years or older with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the records of stage IIIB, IV NSCLC patients or surgically inoperable stage II, IIIA NSCLC patients who were aged 70 years or older when treated with gemcitabine (1,250 mg/m2) plus cisplatin (75 mg/m2) or carboplatin (AUC5) chemotherapy from 2001 to 2010 at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital and St. Vincent's Hospital. Gemcitabine was administered on days 1 and 8, and cisplatin or carboplatin was administered on day 1. Treatments were repeated every 3 weeks for a maximum of 4 cycles. RESULTS: The median age of the 62 patients was 73.5 years (range, 70 to 84 years). Forty-one (66%) patients exhibited comorbidity. The mean number of treatment cycles was 3.9. The compared average relative dose intensity of gemcitabine plus platinum chemotherapy was 84.8%. The median progression-free survival and overall survival (OS) were 5.0 months and 9.4 months, respectively. Reduced Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (none vs. > or =1) and weight loss (<5% vs. > or =5%) after treatment were found to have a significant effect on OS (p=0.01). CONCLUSION: Gemcitabine plus platinum chemotherapy is an effective treatment option with an acceptable level of toxicity in patients aged 70 years or older with good performance status in advanced NSCLC.
