Treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer in older persons

The majority of individuals diagnosed with lung cancer in the United States are 70 years of age and older. Defining appropriate therapy for older patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is becoming a major focus of clinical research. In this article, we review the available data on clinical predictors of risk and benefit for elderly NSCLC patients receiving treatment via a variety of modalities, including surgery, radiotherapy, combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and chemotherapy alone. The data demonstrate that subgroups of elderly patients benefit from appropriately selected treatment. Participation of older patients in clinical trials designed to assess efficacy, toxicity, and quality-of-life outcomes for recently developed treatment modalities in this population is critical.