Concurrent chemoradiation for elderly patients with locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: still a controversial issue. (April 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Westeel, Virginie; Quoix, Elisabeth; Baudrin, Laurence; Milleron, Bernard
• Is Part Of: Aging health. Volume 8:Number 2(2012)
• Page Start: 119
• Page End: 122
• Publication Date: 2012-04
• Subjects: cisplatin -- concurrent chemoradiation -- consolidation -- docetaxel -- elderly -- etoposide -- locally advanced -- non-small-cell lung cancer -- stage III -- toxicity; Geriatrics -- Periodicals; 618.97005
• DOI: 10.2217/ahe.12.14
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1745-509X

Abstract

Evaluation of: Jalal SI, Riggs HD, Melnyk A et al. Updated survival and outcomes for older adults with inoperable stage III non-small-cell lung cancer treated with cisplatin, etoposide, and concurrent chest radiation with or without consolidation docetaxel: analysis of a Phase III trial from the Hoosier Oncology Group (HOG) and US Oncology. Ann. Oncol. doi:10.1093/annonc/mdr565 (2011) (Epub ahead of print). The paper by Jalal et al. reports updated survival of a Phase III trial of concurrent chemoradiation with or without consolidation docetaxel for locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer, and efficacy and tolerability data in patients ≥70 years. Of the 243 enrolled patients, 166 were randomized and 64 were aged ≥70 years (26%). There was no benefit of consolidation docetaxel. Median and 3-year survival was 17.1 months and 21.8% in patients ≥70 years, and 22.8 months and 34% in patients <70 years, respectively (p = 0.15). There were significantly more grade 3–4 toxicities (87 vs 73%; p = 0.02) and more hospitalizations in elderly patients (45 vs 32%; p = 0.03), but no increase in toxic deaths. Concurrent chemoradiation can be an option in elderly patients. However, significantly higher toxicity should be taken into account and elderly patients highly selected.