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Updated: May 30, 2026
04:04
Endobronchial Ultrasound-guided Intratumoral Injection of Cisplatin for the Treatment of Isolated Mediastinal Recurrence of Lung Cancer
Published on: February 12, 2017
Treating advanced non-small cell lung cancer in the elderly
Paolo Maione1, Antonio Rossi, Paola Claudia Sacco
1Division of Medical Oncology, 'S.G. Moscati' Hospital, Contrada Amoretta, 83100 Avellino, Italy.
Therapeutic Advances in Medical Oncology
|July 27, 2011
Summary
For elderly patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), single-agent chemotherapy is the standard. Targeted therapies like erlotinib and gefitinib show promise, but caution is advised with bevacizumab due to comorbidities.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Geriatric Medicine
- Clinical Pharmacology
Background:
- Over 40% of lung cancer diagnoses occur in patients over 70.
- Elderly patients often have comorbidities and lower treatment tolerance.
- Existing clinical data from younger populations may not apply to elderly non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current chemotherapy and targeted therapy options for elderly NSCLC patients.
- To assess the efficacy and tolerability of treatments in this specific demographic.
- To highlight data gaps and areas for future research in elderly NSCLC treatment.
Main Methods:
- Review of prospective clinical trials focusing on elderly NSCLC patients.
- Analysis of data from phase II and III trials on chemotherapy and targeted therapies.
- Evaluation of treatment outcomes, including efficacy and adverse events.
Main Results:
- Single-agent chemotherapy with third-generation agents is the standard for elderly advanced NSCLC.
- Cisplatin-based chemotherapy at reduced doses is feasible and active.
- Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (erlotinib, gefitinib) show activity and good tolerability.
- Bevacizumab use requires caution due to cardiovascular risks in the elderly.
Conclusions:
- Current evidence supports single-agent chemotherapy as standard care for elderly advanced NSCLC.
- Targeted therapies offer alternatives, but careful patient selection is crucial.
- Limited data exist for octogenarians, necessitating cautious extrapolation and further trials.
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