Treatment of Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer with Vinorelbine in Elderly Thai Patients
Sirikul Sorraritchingchai MD*, Sumitra Thongprasert MD*, Chaiyuth Charoentum MD*, Busayamas Chewasakulyong MD*, Suttirak Moonprakan BSc*
Affiliation : * Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University
The present study evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of vinorelbine as single chemotherapy for
elderly Thai patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Twenty-eight patients with no
prior chemotherapy and ECOG performance status of 0-2 were enrolled in the study. There were 20 males and
8 females with a median age of 72 years, and the median ECOG performance status was 1. Eight cases were
stage IIIB and 20 cases were stage IV. Fourteen cases were adenocarcinoma, 13 were squamous cell and one
was large cell NSCLC. These patients received vinorelbine 25 mg/m2 on day 1 and 8. This treatment produced
partial reponse in 5 of 25 evaluable patients (20%). Median survival time was 40 weeks. Hematologic
toxicity caused 9% grade 3 anemia, 1.5% grade 4 neutropenia and 0.5% grade 4 neutropenia.
Conclusion : Chemotherapy is a valuable treatment option for elderly patients with advanced NSCLC.
Single agent vinorelbine is able to induce an overall response with a low toxicity level in elderly Thai
patients with advanced NSCLC.
Keywords : Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Vinorelbine, Chemotherapy for elderly patients NSCLC.
