Comparative study of the efficacy and safety between mono-chemotherapy and targeted therapy for patients over 80 years old with advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract

Objective To compare the efficacy and safety between mono-chemotherapy and targeted therapy as first-line regimen for patients over 80 years old with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods 108 NSCLC patients aged ≥80 years in our hospital were divided into two groups according to the therapeutic program, of which group A was mono-chemotherapy group (n=60) and group B was targeted therapy group (n=48). The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS), while secondary endpoint was objective response rate (RR), disease control rate (DCR) and safety. Results The median PFS, and median OS in group B were significantly longer than those in group A (P=0.013, 0.025). The 1-year survival rate of group B was significantly higher than that of group A (P=0.001), and there was no significant difference between the two groups (P=0.605). There was also no statistically significant difference in RR between the two groups (P=0.408). DCR in Group B was significantly higher than that in group A (P=0.043). The incidence of skin rash in group B was significantly higher than that in group A, and the incidence of adverse reactions and hematological toxicity in group A was significantly higher than that in group B. Conclusions Compared with single-agent chemotherapy, epithelial growth factor receptor-tyrosinekinase (EGFR-TKI) targeted therapy has longer PFS and OS benefits for patients≥ 80 years with advanced NSCLC, and was well tolerated by patients. Key words: Carcinoma, non-small-cell lung/DT; Molecular targeted therapy; Aged, 80 and over