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

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.

Effects of chemotherapy on survival of elderly patients with small-cell lung cancer: analysis of the SEER-medicare database.

Introduction: This retrospective cohort study was designed to analyze factors associated with administration of chemotherapy and to examine the impact of chemotherapy on survival among elderly patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) in the community.

Methods: Elderly patients aged 65 years and older with SCLC diagnosed between 1992 and 2001 were selected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare database. Logistic regression was used to evaluate which covariates influenced receipt of chemotherapy.