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Background: We examined whether the weight loss that occurs with platinum-based chemotherapy in lung cancer patients is associated with chemotherapy side effects, treatment completion rates and therapeutic effect. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed charts of advanced lung cancer patients treated with =2 cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on = 5 or <5% weight loss. Relationships between weight loss and other variables were investigated. Results: Among 114 patients, 18 (15.8%) experienced = 5% weight loss. Significantly more patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) than with non- SCLC were found to have = 5% weight loss (30.8 vs. 11.4%, p = 0.023). Patients with = 5% weight loss experienced higher incidences of grade 3-4 leukopenia (p = 0.008) and neutropenia (p = 0.005), and treatment completion rates were lower in this group (p = 0.035). Weight loss was not significantly associated with therapeutic effect. Conclusion: The weight loss in patients with advanced lung cancer receiving platinum-based chemotherapy is associated with SCLC, grade 3-4 leukopenia, neutropenia and a decrease in treatment completion rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Optimal management of elderly patients (≥70 years) with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains debatable. We compared survival and treatment of advanced NSCLC between elderly and younger patients. Methods: From the cancer registry, we identified 188 patients treated with chemotherapy for stage IV NSCLC. Patient characteristics, survival, toxicity, chemotherapy regimen and response were compared between age groups (patients 50-69 vs. ≥70 years). Results: There were 96 young and 92 elderly patients. The majority were male (70%) and had adenocarcinoma (53%). More elderly had an ECOG performance status >1 (59 vs. 42%, p = 0.04). Median survival was longer for young patients (11.5 vs. 10.8 months, hazard ratio, HR 1.43, p = 0.04). Patients ≥75 years had a significantly worse outcome compared to the young and patients aged 70-74 years (11.5 vs. 12.8 vs. 7.7 months, HR 1.71, p = 0.01). Hospitalization rate did not differ. Elderly had more hematological toxicities (56 vs. 32%, p = 0.01) and less frequently received first-line platinum combinations (96 vs. 69%, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Elderly patients had a marginally worse survival compared to young patients. Despite the less frequent use of combination chemotherapy, elderly patients experienced toxicity more often. Survival of those ≥75 years was significantly worse, indicating the urgent need of further research particularly in this age group. Copyright © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]