VINORELBINE TREATMENT OF ADVANCED NONSMALL CELL LUNG-CANCER WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON ELDERLY PATIENTS

The aim of this study was to investigate the activity and the toxicity of vinorelbine (VNB) in a population of patients with locally advance d inoperable or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) includin g elderly patients unfit for cisplatin-based chemotherapy. VNB was adm inistered at a dose of 25-30 mg/m(2), intravenously, weekly until prog ression. Of the 83 patients who entered the study (median age 63 years , number of patients aged greater than or equal to 70 years = 23, medi an performance status = 80, stage IV in 58 patients, previous chemothe rapy in 15 patients), 76 were evaluable. One complete remission and 22 partial remissions were noted (30.2% reponse rate). Toxicity was mild . Median survival was 9 months. No effect of age upon outcome was dete cted. Thus, single agent VNB is a reasonable option for advanced NSCLC , particularly in elderly patients. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Scienc e Ltd