Carboplatin-containing regimens as front-line treatment for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer in two groups of elderly

• Published in: Journal of chemotherapy (Florence) 2014-04, Vol.26 (2), p.111-116
• Main Authors: Giuliani, Jacopo, Piacentini, Paolo, Greco, Filippo, Mercanti, Anna, Trolese, Anna Rita, Furini, Lara, Durante, Emilia, Moratello, Giacomo, Tognetto, Michele, Bonetti, Andrea
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Carboplatin - administration & dosage; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - drug therapy; Chemotherapy; Deoxycytidine - administration & dosage; Deoxycytidine - analogs & derivatives; Elderly; Female; Humans; Lung cancer; Lung Neoplasms - drug therapy; Male; Medical sciences; Multiple tumors. Solid tumors. Tumors in childhood (general aspects); NSCLC; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Pneumology; Retrospective Studies; Tumors; Tumors of the respiratory system and mediastinum; Vinblastine - administration & dosage; Vinblastine - analogs & derivatives
• ISSN: 1120-009X; 1973-9478
• DOI: 10.1179/1973947813Y.0000000112

Objectives: We evaluated the impact of a carboplatin-based doublet in two groups of elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC). Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of all consecutive elderly patients (≧70 year old) with advanced NSCLC who received a carboplatin-based doublet as front-line therapy at our medical oncology unit was performed. Results: In the study, 57 consecutive elderly patients with advanced NSCLC were included. Carboplatin was combined with vinorelbine in 41 patients (71·9%) and with gemcitabine in 16 patients (28·1%). Overall, a total of 227 cycles were administered to 57 patients - 142 cycles were administered to patients in group 1 and 85 cycles were given to patients in group 2 - median number of administered cycles per patient was 4 (range 1-6). Of the patients, 35 (62%, group 1) were 'young-old' (70-74-year old) and 20 (38%, group 2) were 'old-old' (75-82-year old). Toxicity was mild in both subgroups (grade 3-4 neutropenia in 17·1% of group 1 and in 9·1% of group 2). At the univariate analysis, the median overall survival (OS) was 10·07 months (P = 0·789, 95% CI: 8·49-11·64), 10·1 months in group 1 and 9·8 months in group 2. Conclusions: This evaluation shows the safety and efficacy of a carboplatin-based doublet given as first-line chemotherapy in elderly advanced NSCLC patients. The combination with vinorelbine or gemcitabine is associated with a very good toxicity profile that does not seem to have a detrimental effect on efficacy.