Advanced non-small cell lung cancer in elderly patients: A review

Abstract

Over 50% of patients diagnosed with non-smallcell lung cancer (NSCLC) are 65 years old while 30% exceed 70 years old. Comparing elderly patients to their younger counterpart they poorly tolerate chemotherapy due to progressive reduction of organ function and age-related co-existing pathologies. Due to this reason elderly are usually excluded from platinum-based chemotherapy, which still represent the standard of care for advanced NSCLC. In every-day practice, single-agent schedule with a third-generation drug is the recommended option for elderly patients with advanced NSCLC. A modest increase in toxicity for elderly patients has been demonstrated by subgroup analyses concluding for platinum-based combination chemotherapy being similar in young patients and fit elderly. Even though the cited evidence, feasibility of chemotherapy based on platinum remains an open question. Prospective randomised trials are warranted in order to change guide lines and give the clinicians a new therapeutic option. Recent emerging role of molecular target in selecting patients for new targeted therapies suggest dedicated trials for elderly patients. The same is for more accurate evaluation of elderly patients with increasing evidence for a comprehensive geriatric assessment as a valid tool for customized treatment in NSCLC elderly patients. Suitable evidences for the treatment of elderly patients affected by advanced NSCLC together with more appropriate and validated tools for patients selection are reviewed along the manuscript.