{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.0352536543422184, 'fraction_numerical': 0.03267411865864144, 'mean_word_length': 4.82, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
Low Dose Fractionated Cisplatin Plus Gemcitabine for Elderly Patients with Advanced Non Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Retrospective Analysis

Abstract The aim of the study was to evaluate safety and efficacy of gemcitabine-cisplatin in elderly patients with advanced non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study included 59 patients aged ≥70 years consecutively admitted to our Department. Treatment consisted of gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8, and low-dose fractionated cisplatin 20 mg/m2 on days 1, 2, 3 of a 21-day cycle. Toxicity was graded according to the world Health Organization (WHO) criteria. A total of 281 cycles was administered. Hematological toxicities of grade 3 and 4 were seen in 17% and 5% of patients, respectively. Grade 3 gastrointestinal toxicity was 3%, grade 2 neuropathy was 2%. Twenty-nine partial responses with an objective response rate of 49% were obtained. No complete responses were observed. The median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 7.8 and 15.5 months respectively. Cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy at low doses appears to be safe and active in older patients with advanced NSCLC.