The short-term effect of the sequential therapy of conventional chemotherapy combined with gefitinib in the treatment of advanced lung adenocarcinoma in elderly patients

Objective: To observe the effects and adverse reactions of the sequential therapy of conventional chemotherapy combined with gefitinib in the treatment of advanced lung adenocarcinoma in elderly patients.Methods: Fifteen elderly patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma were treated with conventional chemotherapy one cycle every 3 weeks for less than six cycles,the gefitinib was used after chemotherapy or disease progression during chemotherapy until the patients could not tolerate.The short-term effects and adverse reactions of the patients were observed.Results: Among 15 patients,partial remission in 5 cases(33.3%),stable disease in 7 cases(46.7%) and disease progression in 3 cases(20.0%) were found,the effective rate,disease control rate and 1-year survival rate of which were 33.3%,80.0%,and 33.3%,respectively.The bone marrow suppression,gastrointestinal reaction and skin rash were the major adverse reactions.Conclusions: The sequential therapy of conventional chemotherapy combined with gefitinib in the treatment of advanced lung adenocarcinoma in elderly patients is good and safe.