A single institution experience of lung cancer treatment in octogenarians

Abstract

18141 Background: In the NCI’s SEER database nearly 15% of NSCLC patients were = 80 years during the years 1973–2003. As the “elderly” population increases, the percentage of octogenarians with NSCLC will increase. To better understand this population we investigated the patient and tumor characteristics and treatment modalities by stage in octogenarians with NSCLC over a recent 5 year period at The Ohio State University Medical Center. Methods: Patients aged 80 years and older with biopsy-proven NSCLC seen between 1998–2003 were included in the analysis. 74 patients met criteria for study. Data was gathered from the cancer registry and chart reviews. Characteristics included stage, histology, treatment, and co-morbid conditions (pulmonary and non-pulmonary co-morbidities, weight loss, and ECOG PS). PS was either explicitly stated or inferred from the records, or recorded as “unknown” when PS could not be determined. Results: The 74 patients averaged 82.8 years of age (range 80–91), with 53% males and 47% females (83 years of age with 56% males and 44% females from the SEER database). 46% of patients had “surgical” disease (Stage IA, IB, and IIB), 20.3% had stage III disease, 29.7% had stage IV disease, and 4.0% had indeterminate staging. 82.4% of “surgical” disease patients received some variety of treatment (70.6% surgery[S], 23.5% radiation[RT], and 12.5% chemo[Ch]); 80% of stage III patients received treatment (53.3% S, 40% RT, and 33.3% Ch); 50% of stage IV patients received treatment (0% S, 31.8% RT, and 40.9% Ch). Patients with an ECOG PS of 0–1, 2, 3–4, or “unknown” equaled 44.6%, 20.3%, 16.2%, and 18.9% respectively with 81.8%, 100%, 41.7%, and 78.6% of these patients receiving treatment. Conclusions: There is little data on treatment of the ‘extreme elderly.‘ Our analysis of this subset of the elderly reveals that most octogenarians seen at a referral center can receive treatment. The majority of “surgical” disease octogenarians received surgical resection of their primary tumor and the majority of all patients received some treatment. Further studies of outcomes based on staging, co-morbidities, and PS will be important in this population. Additional studies of this population in non-referral centers are of interest. No significant financial relationships to disclose.