Pemetrexed combined with cisplatin as first-line treatment for elderly patients with advanced-stage non-small cell lung cancer:an analysis of 32 cases

Objective: To investigate the effect and toxicity of pemetrexed plus cisplatin in treatment of advanced-stage non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC) in the elderly. Methods: Thirty-two chemotherapy-naive patients with stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ NSCLC who had received at least 2 cycles of pemetrexed/cisplatin therapy were reviewed retrospectively. The recent response and the toxicity were observed. Results: Of the 32 patients,complete response was found in 1 case,partial response in 13 cases,the disease was stable in 11 cases and progressive in 7 cases. The overall response rate was 43.8%. The median progression-free survival was 5.2 months. The incidence of hematologic grade Ⅲ/Ⅳ toxicities was low, and the main non-hematologic toxicities were nausea and alopecia. Conclusions: Pemetrexed/cisplatin therapy is effective and safe for treatment of elder patients with advanced-stage NSCLC.