Chemotherapy and Radiation Versus Chemotherapy Alone for Elderly Patients With N3 Stage IIIB NSCLC

Abstract

BackgroundStandard treatment for stage III non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is concurrent chemotherapy and radiation (chemo-RT). However, N3 stage IIIB disease portends a worse prognosis and the tolerability of chemo-RT in patients ≥70 years old is a concern. In this analysis, we evaluate the survival of patients with N3 stage IIIB NSCLC who were treated with chemo-RT or chemotherapy alone with a focus on elderly patients. Patients and MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed patients diagnosed with N3 stage IIIB NSCLC between 2010 and 2013 using the National Cancer Database. We compared overall survival (OS) between patients who underwent chemo-RT versus chemotherapy alone. The Kaplan–Meier method was used for median OS with log rank tests. Multivariable Cox models were used for multivariable and subgroup analyses. ResultsWe included 9769 patients in our analysis, 7770 of whom received chemo-RT and 1999 who received chemotherapy alone. The median OS for patients who received chemo-RT was 16.4 months versus 12.7 months with chemotherapy alone (P < .0001). The median OS for patients ≥70 years old who received chemo-RT was 15.0 months versus 12.4 months with chemotherapy alone (P < .0001). In multivariable analyses, the benefit of chemo-RT was similar regardless of age. Subgroup analyses in patients ≥70 years indicated a benefit of chemo-RT (hazard ratio, <1.0) across all patient and disease strata. ConclusionSurvival was improved in elderly patients who received chemo-RT versus chemotherapy alone for N3 stage IIIB NSCLC. Our findings suggest that age and comorbidities should not preclude clinicians from recommending chemo-RT to these patients.