EVALUATION OF THE EFFICIENCY AND TOLERABILITY OF MONO THERAPY WITH ORAL ETOPOSIDE IN ELDERLY PATIENTS (70+ YEARS OF AGE) WITH ADVANCED NON SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER AND POOR PERFORMANCE STATUS

Motivation Until recently it was considered that 65 years is cutoff for defining patients as elderly, but newer reports indicate that this age limit shift to 70 years of age. Elderly patients with advanced non small cell lung cancer, associated comorbidities and poor performance status represent a specific population and a challenge for use of chemotherapy. Primary aim was to evaluate the impact of mono therapy with oral etoposide on overall survival in elderly patients (≥ 70 years of age) with advanced non small cell lung cancer and poor performance status (PS) ≥ 2 (clinical stage IIIb and IV ), and as well to evaluate tolerability of this therapy. Secondary aim was to evaluate response rate. Methods Retrospectively, medical records of 79 female and male patients with advanced non small cell lung cancer and poor performance status treated with oral etoposide (2x25 mg 20 days/10 days pause) in period from 2007 till 2010 were checked for relevant data. Data regarding demographics, performance status, overall survival, response rates and drug toxicity were collected. For statistical analysis we used Pearson chi-square test, T-test, Kaplan-Meier product limited method and Cox regression. Results Median overall survival (OS) was 31 weeks, in patients with PS 2 overall survival was 34 weeks, and in group with PS 3 was only 24 weeks. Partial response was registered in 20.2% of patients, stable disease in 41.85 % and disease progression in 38% of patients. Treatment was well tolerated, febrile neutropenia and toxic deaths were not registered. Toxic effects didn't have statistically significant influence on OS. Conclusion Oral etoposide used as mono therapy has been shown as moderate effective and very safe in treating elderly patients with advanced non small cell lung cancer and poor performance status so it represents a good therapy option for treating this specific population.