The benefit of chemotherapy in elderly patients with small cell lung cancer

Abstract

Elderly patients with small cell lung cancer derive a statistically significant benefit from the administration of combination chemotherapy. Numerous clinical trials have demonstrated high response rates and impressive median survivals with carboplatin and etoposide, cisplatin and etoposide, and other regimens. All elderly patients with small cell lung cancer should be evaluated by a medical oncologist to determine whether they are candidates for chemotherapy.

Keywords::

• chemotherapy
• clinical trials
• elderly
• lung cancer
• radiation
• small cell lung cancer
• survival

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.