Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Radiation Therapy for Lung Cancer in Elderly

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Advances in Radiation Oncology in Lung Cancer

Part of the book series: Medical Radiology ((Med Radiol Radiat Oncol))

  • 1721 Accesses

Abstract

Western world is rapidly aging, yet the exact threshold age for differentiating elderly versus non-elderly is not widely adopted. Elderly are also underrepresented in clinical trials and level of evidence of preferred treatment in both non-small-cell and small-cell lung cancer is basically lacking. From the existing evidence, however, it seems that radiation therapy is safe and effective treatment modality in patients with early stage non-small-cell lung cancer. It is so also in locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer when combined with radiochemotherapy, although caution should be exercised when one attempts to combine high-dose radiation therapy with high-dose chemotherapy. Similarly, palliative radiation therapy is effective in elderly with non-small-cell lung cancer unsuitable for radical approach, with or without additional chemotherapy. Finally, in small-cell lung cancer, again, radiation therapy can successfully be employed either alone or, most frequently, with chemotherapy in treatment of both limited and extensive-disease small-cell lung cancer. While largely unsubstantiated fear has governed our approaches in elderly with lung cancer in recent decades, novel radiation therapy technologies and novel drugs should provide suitable framework for embarking on more clinical trials in elderly.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 219.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 279.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Ahmad E, Sandhu AP, Fuster MM, Messer K, Pu M, Nobiensky P, Bazhenova L, Seagren S (2010) Hypofractionated radiotherapy as definitive treatment of Stage I non-small-cell lung cancer in older patients. Am J Clin Oncol. 17 Jun 2010. [Epub ahead of print]

    Google Scholar 

  • Albain KS, Crowley JJ, LeBlanc M, Livingston RB (1990) Determinants of improved outcome in small-cell lung cancer: an analysis of the 2,580-patient Southwest Oncology Group data base. J Clin Oncol 8:1563–1574

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Aristizabal SA, Caldwell WL (1976) Radical irradiation with the split-course technique in carcinoma of the lung. Cancer 37:2630–2635

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Aristizabal SA, Meyerson M, Caldwell WL, Mayer EG (1976) Age as a prognostic indicator in carcinoma of the lung. Radiology 121:721–723

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Atagi S, Kawahara M, Ogawara M, Matsui K, Masuda N, Kudoh S, Negoro S, Furuse K (2000) Phase II trial of daily low-dose carboplatin and thoracic radiotherapy in elderly patients with locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. Jpn J Clin Oncol 30:59–64

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Atagi S, Kawahara M, Tamura T, Noda K, Watanabe K, Yokoyama A, Sugiura T, Senba H, Ishikura S, Ikeda H, Ishizuka N, Saijo N, Japan Clinical Oncology Group (JCOG9812) (2005) Standard thoracic radiotherapy with or without concurrent daily low-dose carboplatin in elderly patients with locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: a phase III trial of the Japan Clinical Oncology Group (JCOG9812). Jpn J Clin Oncol 35:195–201

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Auperin A, Arriagada R, Pignon JP, Gregor A, Stephens RJ, Kristjansen PE, Johnson BE, Ueoka H, Wagner H, Aisner J (1999) Prophylactic cranial irradiation for patients with small-cell lung cancer in complete remission. Prophylactic cranial irradiation overview collaborative group. N Engl J Med 341:476–484

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bach PB, Cramer LD, Warren JL, Begg CB (1999) Racial differences in the treatment of early-stage lung cancer. N Engl J Med 341:1198–1205

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Balducci L, Extermann M (2000a) Cancer and aging. An evolving panorama. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am 14:1–16

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Balducci L, Extermann M (2000b) Management of cancer in the older person: a practical approach. Oncologist 5:224–237

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bernabei R, Venturiero R, Tarsitani P, Gambassi G (2000) The comprehensive geriatric assessment: When, where, how. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 33:45–56

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bonner JA, Sloan JA, Shanahan TG, Brooks BJ, Marks RS, Krook JE, Gerstner JB, Maksymiuk A, Levitt R, Mailliard JA, Tazelaar HD, Hillman S, Jett JR (1999) Phase III comparison of twice-daily split-course irradiation versus once-daily irradiation for patients with limited stage small-cell lung carcinoma. J Clin Oncol 17:2681–2691

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Clamon G, Herndon J, Cooper R, Chang AY, Rosenman J, Green MR (1999) Radiosensitization with carboplatin for patients with unresectable Stage III non-small-cell lung cancer: a phase III trial of the Cancer and Leukemia Group B and the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group. J Clin Oncol 17:4–11

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Coate LE, Massey C, Hope A, Sacher A, Barrett K, Pierre A, Leighl N, Brade A, de Perrot M, Waddell T, Liu G, Feld R, Burkes R, Cho BC, Darling G, Sun A, Keshavjee S, Bezjak A, Shepherd FA (2011) Treatment of the elderly when cure is the goal: the influence of age on treatment selection and efficacy for Stage III non-small-cell lung cancer. J Thorac Oncol 6:537–544

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Coy P, Kennelly GM (1980) The role of curative radiotherapy in the treatment of lung cancer. Cancer 45:698–702

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dajczman E, Fu LY, Small D, Wolkove N, Kreisman H (1996) Treatment of small-cell lung carcinoma in the elderly. Cancer 77:2032–2038

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Extermann M (2000) Measuring co-morbidity in older cancer patients. Eur J Cancer 36:453–471

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Findlay MP, Griffin AM, Raghavan D, McDonald KE, Coates AS, Duval PJ, Gianoutsos P (1991) Retrospective review of chemotherapy for small-cell lung cancer in the elderly: Does the end justify the means? Eur J Cancer 27:1597–1601

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Firat S, Pleister A, Wirad RW, Gore E (2006) Age is independent of comorbidity influencing patient selection for combined modality therapy for treatment of Stage III non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Am J Clin Oncol 29:252–257

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Furuse K, Fukuoka M, Kawahara M, Nishikawa H, Takada Y, Kudoh S, Katagami N, Ariyoshi Y (1999) Phase III study of concurrent versus sequential thoracic radiotherapy in combination with mitomycin, vindesine, and cisplatin in unresectable Stage III non-small-cell lung cancer. J Clin Oncol 17:2692–2699

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gauden SJ, Tripcony L (2001) The curative treatment by radiation therapy alone of Stage I non-small-cell lung cancer in a geriatric population. Lung Cancer 32:71–79

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gauden S, Ramsay J, Tripcony L (1995) The curative treatment by radiotherapy alone of Stage I non-small cell carcinoma of the lung. Chest 108:1278–1282

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gava A (1999) Lung cancer radiation treatment in the elderly. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 32:45–48

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ghosh S, Sujendran V, Alexiou C, Beggs L, Beggs D (2003) Long term results of surgery versus continuous hyper fractionated accelerated radiotherapy (CHART) in patients aged >70 years with Stage 1 non-small-cell lung cancer. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 24:1002–1007

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Giorgo CG, Pappalardo A, Ruso A (2007) A phase II induction chemotherapy followed by concurent chemoradiotherapy in elderly patients with locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. Anticancer Drugs 18:713–719

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haasbeek CJ, Lagerwaard FJ, Antonisse ME, Slotman BJ, Senan S (2010) Stage I non-small-cell lung cancer in patients aged > or =75 years: Outcomes after stereotactic radiotherapy. Cancer 116:406–414

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hanna N, Neubauer M, Yiannoutsos C, McGarry R, Arseneau J, Ansari R, Reynolds C, Govindan R, Melnyk A, Fisher W, Richards D, Bruetman D, Anderson T, Chowhan N, Nattam S, Mantravadi P, Johnson C, Breen T, White A, Einhorn L, Hoosier Oncology Group; US Oncology (2008) Phase III study of cisplatin, etoposide, and concurrent chest radiation with or without consolidation docetaxel in patients with inoperable Stage III non-small-cell lung cancer: the Hoosier Oncology Group and U.S. Oncology. J Clin Oncol 26:5755–5760

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hayakawa K, Mitsuhashi N, Saito Y, Nakayama Y, Furuta M, Sakurai H, Kawashima M, Ohno T, Nasu S, Niibe H (1999) Limited field irradiation for medically inoperable patients with peripheral Stage I non-small-cell lung cancer. Lung Cancer 26:137–142

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hayakawa K, Mitsuhashi N, Katano S, Saito Y, Nakayama Y, Sakurai H, Akimoto T, Hasegawa M, Yamakawa M, Niibe H (2001) High-dose radiation therapy for elderly patients with inoperable or unresectable non-small-cell lung cancer. Lung Cancer 32:81–88

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hayman JA, Abrahamse PH, Lakhani I, Earle CC, Katz SJ (2007) Use of palliative radiotherapy among patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 69:1001–1007

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Higton AM, Monach J, Congleton J (2010) Investigation and management of lung cancer in older adults. Lung Cancer 69:209–212

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jara C, Gomez-Aldaravi JL, Tirado R, Meseguer VA, Alonso C, Fernandez A (1999) Small-cell lung cancer in the elderly: is age of patient a relevant factor? Acta-Oncol 38:781–786

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jatoi A, Schild SE, Foster N, Henning GT, Dornfeld KJ, Flynn PJ, Fitch TR, Dakhil SR, Rowland KM, Stella PJ, Soori GS, Adjei AA (2010) A phase II study of cetuximab and radiation in elderly and/or poor performance status patients with locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (N0422). Ann Oncol 21:2040–2044

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jeremic B, Shibamoto Y, Acimovic L, Milisavljevic S (1997) Hyperfractionated radiotherapy alone for clinical Stage I non-small-cell lung cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 38:521–525

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jeremic B, Shibamoto Y, Milicic B, Nikolic N, Dagovic A, Milisavljevic S (1998a) Concurrent radiochemotherapy for patients with Stage III non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC): long-term results of a phase II study. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 42:1091–1096

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jeremic B, Shibamoto Y, Acimovic L, Milisavljevic S (1998b) Carboplatin, etoposide, and accelerated hyperfractionated radiotherapy for elderly patients with limited small-cell lung carcinoma: a phase II study. Cancer 82:836–841

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jeremic B, Shibamoto Y, Acimovic L, Milisavljevic S (1999a) Hyperfractionated radiotherapy for clinical Stage II non-small-cell lung cancer. Radiother Oncol 51:141–145

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jeremic B, Shibamoto Y, Milicic B, Milisavljevic S, Nikolic N, Dagovic A, Aleksandrovic J, Radosavljevic-Asic G (1999b) A phase II study of concurrent accelerated hyperfractionated radiotherapy and carboplatin/oral etoposide for elderly patients with Stage III non-small-cell lung cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 44:343–348

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jeremic B, Shibamoto Y, Milicic B, Milisavljevic S, Nikolic N, Dagovic A, Aleksandrovic J, Radosavljevic-Asic G (1999c) Short-term chemotherapy and palliative radiotherapy for elderly patients with Stage IV non-small-cell lung cancer. A phase II study. Lung Cancer 24:1–9

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jeremic B, Shibamoto Y, Nikolic N, Milicic B, Milisavljevic S, Dagovic A, Aleksandrovic J, Radosavljevic-Asic G (1999d) Role of radiation therapy in the combined-modality treatment of patients with extensive disease small-cell lung cancer: a randomized study. J Clin Oncol 17:2092–2099

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Joss RA, Bacchi M, Hurny C, Bernhard J, Cerny T, Martinelli G, Leyvraz S, Senn HJ, Stahel R, Siegenthaler P (1995) Early versus late alternating chemotherapy in small-cell lung cancer. Swiss Group for Clinical Cancer Research (SAKK). Ann Oncol 6:157–166

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karasawa K, Niibe Y, Igaki H, Ieki R, Tanaka Y (2002) Radiotherapy combined with bronchial arterial infusion of CDDP in the treatment of Stage III non-small-cell lung cancer for aged patients. Int J Radiation Oncol Biol 54 (Suppl): 104 (Abstract 175)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaskowitz L, Graham MV, Emami B, Halverson KJ, Rush C (1993) Radiation therapy alone for Stage I non-small-cell lung cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 27:517–523

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kelly P, O’Brien AA, Daly P, Clancy L (1991) Small-cell lung cancer in elderly patients: the case for chemotherapy. Age Ageing 20:19–22

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Krol AD, Aussems P, Noordijk EM, Hermans J, Leer JW (1996) Local irradiation alone for peripheral Stage I lung cancer: Could we omit the elective regional nodal irradiation? Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 34:297–302

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kusumoto S, Koga K, Tsukino H, Nagamachi S, Nishikawa K, Watanabe K (1986) Comparison of survival of patients with lung cancer between elderly (greater than or equal to 70) and younger (70 greater than) age groups. Jpn J Clin Oncol 16:319–323

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Langer CJ, Scott CB, Byhardt RW (2000) Effect of advanced age on outcome in radiation therapy oncology group studies of locally advanced NSCLC. Lung Cancer 29:104 (Abstract 340)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Langer CJ, Hsu C, Curran WJ Jr et al (2001) Do elderly patients with locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer benefit from combined modality therapy? A secondary analysis of RTOG 94–10. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 51(Suppl 23):31

    Google Scholar 

  • Livingston RB, Mira JG, Chen TT, McGowan M, Costanzi JJ, Samson M (1984) Combined modality treatment of extensive small-cell lung cancer: a Southwest Oncology Group study. J Clin Oncol 2:585–590

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lonardi F, Coeli M, Pavanato G, Adami F, Gioga G, Campostrini F (2000) Radiotherapy for non-small-cell lung cancer in patients aged 75 and over: Safety, effectiveness and possible impact on survival. Lung Cancer 28:43–50

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ludbrok JJ, Truong PT, MacNeil MV, Lesperance M, Webber A, Joe H, Martins H, Lim J (2003) Do age and co-morbidity impact treatment allocation and outcomes in limited Stage small-cell lung cancer? A community-based population analysis. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 55:1321–1330

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matsui K, Masuda N, Fukuoka M, Yana T, Hirashima T, Komiya T, Kobayashi M, Kawahara M, Atagi S, Ogawara M, Negoro S, Kudoh S, Furuse K (1998) Phase II trial of carboplatin plus oral etoposide for elderly patients with small-cell lung cancer. Br J Cancer 77:1961–1965

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McKenna RJ Sr (1994) Clinical aspects of cancer in the elderly. Treatment decisions, treatment choices, and follow-up. Cancer 74:2107–2117

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Monfardini S, Sorio R, Boes G, Kaye S, Serraino D (1995) Entry and evaluation of elderly patients in European Organization for research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) new-drug-development studies. Cancer 76:333–338

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Montamat SC, Cusack BJ, Vestal RE (1989) Management of drug therapy in the elderly. N Engl J Med 321:303–309

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Montella M, Gridelli C, Crispo A, Scognamiglio F, Ruffolo P, Gatani T, Boccia V, Maione P, Fabbrocini G (2002) Has lung cancer in the elderly different characteristics at presentation? Oncol Rep 9:1093–1096

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morita K, Fuwa N, Suzuki Y, Nishio M, Sakai K, Tamaki Y, Niibe H, Chujo M, Wada S, Sugawara T, Kita M (1997) Radical radiotherapy for medically inoperable non-small-cell lung cancer in clinical Stage I: a retrospective analysis of 149 patients. Radiother Oncol 42:31–36

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Movsas B, Scott C, Sause W, Byhardt R, Komaki R, Cox J, Johnson D, Lawton C, Dar AR, Wasserman T, Roach M, Lee JS, Andras E (1999) The benefit of treatment intensification is age and histology-dependent in patients with locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC): A quality-adjusted survival analysis of radiation therapy oncology group (RTOG) chemoradiation studies. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 45:1143–1149

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Murray N, Grafton C, Shah A, Gelmon K, Kostashuk E, Brown E, Coppin C, Coldman A, Page R (1998) Abbreviated treatment for elderly, infirm, or noncompliant patients with limited-stage small-cell lung cancer. J Clin Oncol 16:3323–3328

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nakano K, Hiramoto T, Kanehara M, Doi M, Furonaka O, Miyazu Y, Hada Y (1999) Radiotherapy alone for elderly patients with Stage III non-small-cell lung cancer. Nihon Kokyki Gakkai Zasshi 37:276–281

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nakano K, Yamamoto M, Iwamoto H, Hiramoto T (2003) Daily low-dose cisplatin plus concurrent high-dose thoracic radiotherapy in elderly patients with locally advanced unresectable non-small-cell lung cancer. Gan To Kagaku Ryoho 30:1283–1287

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Newaishy GA, Kerr GR (1989) Radical radiotherapy for bronchogenic carcinoma: five year survival rates. Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol) 1:80–85

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Niibe Y, Karasawa K, Shibuya M, Ieki R, Tanaka Y (2003) Prospective study of three-dimensional radiation therapy (3D-CRT) using a middle fraction size for small-sized lung tumor in elderly patients. Proc Am Soc Clin Oncol (Abstract 2702)

    Google Scholar 

  • Noguchi T, Mochizuki H, Yamazaki M, Kawate E, Suzuki Y, Sato T, Takahashi H (2010) A retrospective analysis of clinical outcomes of patients older than or equal to 80 years with small cell lung cancer. J Thorac Oncol 5:1081–1087

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Noordijk EM, vd Poest Clement E, Hermans J, Wever AM, Leer JW (1988) Radiotherapy as an alternative to surgery in elderly patients with resectable lung cancer. Radiother Oncol 13:83–89

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nou E (1996) Full chemotherapy in elderly patients with small cell bronchial carcinoma. Acta-Oncol 35:399–406

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nugent WC, Edney MT, Hammerness PG, Dain BJ, Maurer LH, Rigas JR (1997) Non-small cell lung cancer at the extremes of age: Impact on diagnosis and treatment. Ann Thorac Surg 63:193–197

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Okamoto K, Okamoto I, Takezawa K, Tachibana I, Fukuoka M, Nishimura Y, Nakagawa K (2010) Cisplatin and etoposide chemotherapy combined with early concurrent twice-daily thoracic radiotherapy for limited-disease small-cell lung cancer in elderly patients. Jpn J Clin Oncol 40:54–59

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Osterlind K, Andersen PK (1986) Prognostic factors in small cell lung cancer: Multivariate model based on 778 patients treated with chemotherapy with or without irradiation. Cancer Res 46:4189–4194

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Osterweil D, Brummel-Smith K, Beck JC (eds) (2000) Comprehensive geriatric assessment. McGraw Hill, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Owonikoko TK, Ragin CC, Belani CP, Oton AB, Gooding WE, Taioli E, Ramalingam SS (2007) Lung cancer in elderly patients: an analysis of the surveillance, epidemiology, and end results database. J Clin Oncol 25:5570–5577

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Palma DA, Tyldesley S, Sheehan F, Mohamed IG, Smith S, Wai E, Murray N, Senan S (2010a) Stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in patients aged 75 years and older: Does age determine survival after radical treatment? J Thorac Oncol. 5:818–824

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Palma D, Visser O, Lagerwaard FJ, Belderbos J, Slotman BJ, Senan S (2010b) Impact of introducing stereotactic lung radiotherapy for elderly patients with Stage I non-small-cell lung cancer: a population-based time-trend analysis. J Clin Oncol 28:5153–5159

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Park CH, Bonomi M, Cesaretti J, Neugut AI, Wisnivesky JP (2010) Effect of radiotherapy planning complexity on survival of elderly patients with unresected localized lung cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2010 Oct 5. [Epub ahead of print]

    Google Scholar 

  • Patterson CJ, Hocking M, Bond M, Teale C (1998) Retrospective study of radiotherapy for lung cancer in patients aged 75 years and over. Age Ageing 27:515–518

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pergolizzi S, Santacaterina A, De Renzis C, Settineri N, Gaeta M, Frosina P, Russi EG, Altavilla G (2002) Older people with non small cell lung cancer in clinical Stage IIIA and co-morbid conditions. Is curative irradiation feasible? Final results of a prospective study. Lung Cancer 37:201–206

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pignon JP, Arriagada R, Ihde DC, Johnson DH, Perry MC, Souhami RL, Brodin O, Joss RA, Kies MS, Lebeau B (1992) A meta-analysis of thoracic radiotherapy for small-cell lung cancer. N Engl J Med 327:1618–1624

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pignon T, Gregor A, Schaake-Koning C, Roussel A, Van Glabbeke M, Scalliet P (1998) Age has no impact on acute and late toxicity of curative thoracic radiotherapy. Radiother Oncol 46:239–248

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rocha Lima CM, Herndon JE, Kosty M, Clamon G, Green MR (2002) Therapy choices among older patients with ling carcinoma: an evaluation of two trials of the Cancer and Leukaemia Group B. Cancer 94:181–187

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenthal SA, Curran WJ Jr, Herbert SH, Hughes EN, Sandler HM, Stafford PM, McKenna WG (1992) Clinical Stage II non-small cell lung cancer treated with radiation therapy alone. The significance of clinically staged ipsilateral hilar adenopathy (N1 disease). Cancer 70:2410–2417

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rubenstein LZ (1995) An overview of comprehensive geriatric assessment: Rationale, history, program models, basic components. In: Rubinstein LZ, Wieland D, Bernabei R (eds) Geriatric assessment technology: the state of the art. Springer, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Sagman U, Feld R, Evans WK, Warr D, Shepherd FA, Payne D, Pringle J, Yeoh J, DeBoer G, Malkin A (1991) The prognostic significance of pre-treatment serum lactate dehydrogenase in patients with small-cell lung cancer. J Clin Oncol 9:954–961

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • San José S, Arnaiz MD, Lucas A, Navarro V, Serrano G, Zaderazjko M, Jeremic B, Guedea F (2005) Radiation therapy alone in elderly with early stage non-small-cell lung cancer. Lung Cancer 52:149–154

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sandler HM, Curran WJ Jr, Turrisi AT 3rd (1990) The influence of tumor size and pre-treatment staging on outcome following radiation therapy alone for Stage I non-small-cell lung cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 19:9–13

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schaake-Koning C, van den Bogaert W, Dalesio O, Festen J, Hoogenhout J, van Houtte P, Kirkpatrick A, Koolen M, Maat B, Nijs A (1992) Effects of concomitant cisplatin and radiotherapy on inoperable non-small-cell lung cancer. N Engl J Med 326:524–530

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schild SE, Stella PJ, Geyer SM, Bonner JA, McGinnis WL, Mailliard JA, Brindle J, Jatoi A, Jett JR (2003) The outcome of combined-modality therapy for Stage III non-small-cell lung cancer in elderly. J Clin Oncol 21:3201–3206

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schild SE, Stella PJ, Brooks BJ, Mandrekar S, Bonner JA, McGinnis WL, Mailliard JA, Krook JE, Deming RL, Adjei AA, Jatoi A, Jett JR (2005) Results of combined-modality therapy for limited-stage small-cell lung carcinoma in the elderly. Cancer 103:2349–2354

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schild SE, Mandrekar SJ, Jatoi A, McGinnis WL, Stella PJ, Deming RL, Jett JR, Garces YI, Allen KL, Adjei AA, For the North Central Cancer Treatment Group (2007) The value of combined-modality therapy in elderly patients with Stage III non-small-cell lung cancer. Cancer 110:363–368

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Semarau S, Klautke G, Wirchow JC, Kundt G, Fietkau R (2008) Impact of comorbidity and age on the outcome of patients with inoperable NSCLC treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Respir Med 102:210–218

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sgroi MM, Neubauer M, Ansari R (2007) An analysis of elderly patients (pts) treated on a phase III trial of cisplatin plus etoposide (E) with concurrent radiotherapy (CRT) followed by docetaxel (D) vs observation in patients with Stage III non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Proc Am Soc Clin Oncol 25: (Abstract 9037)

    Google Scholar 

  • Shepherd FA, Amdemichael E, Evans WK, Chalvardjian P, Hogg-Johnson S, Coates R, Paul K (1994) Treatment of small-cell lung cancer in the elderly. J Am Geriatr Soc 42:64–70

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shimizu T, Sekine I, Sumi M, Ito Y, Yamada K, Nokihara H, Yamamoto N, Kunitoh H, Ohe Y, Tamura T (2007) Concurrent chemoradiotherapy for limited-disease small-cell lung cancer in elderly patients aged 75 years or older. Jpn J Clin Oncol 37:181–185

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sibley GS, Jamieson TA, Marks LB, Anscher MS, Prosnitz LR (1998) Radiotherapy alone for medically inoperable Stage I non-small-cell lung cancer: the Duke experience. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 40:149–154

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Siu LL, Shepherd FA, Murray N, Feld R, Pater J, Zee B (1996) Influence of age on the treatment of limited-stage small-cell lung cancer. J Clin Oncol 14:821–828

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Slotman BJ, Njo KH, Karim AB (1994) Curative radiotherapy for technically operable Stage I non-small-cell lung cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 29:33–37

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Spiegelman D, Maurer LH, Ware JH, Perry MC, Chahinian AP, Comis R, Eaton W, Zimmer B, Green M (1989) Prognostic factors in small-cell carcinoma of the lung: an analysis of 1, 521 patients. J Clin Oncol 7:344–354

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tebbutt NC, Snyder RD, Burns WI (1997) An analysis of the outcomes of treatment of small-cell lung cancer in the elderly. Aust N Z J Med 27:160–164

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tombolini V, Bonanni A, Donato V, Raffetto N, Santarelli M, Valeriani M, Enrici RM (2000) Radiotherapy alone in elderly patients with medically inoperable Stage IIIA and IIIB non-small-cell lung cancer. Anticancer Res 20:4829–4833

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Warde P, Payne D (1992) Does thoracic irradiation improve survival and local control in limited-stage small-cell carcinoma of the lung? A meta-analysis. J Clin Oncol 10:890–895

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Werner-Wasik M, Scott C, Cox JD, Sause WT, Byhardt RW, Asbell S, Russell A, Komaki R, Lee JS (2000) Recursive partitioning analysis of 1999 radiation therapy oncology group (RTOG) patients with locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC): Identification of five groups with different survival. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 48:1475–1482

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Westeel V, Murray N, Gelmon K, Shah A, Sheehan F, McKenzie M, Wong F, Morris J, Grafton C, Tsang V, Goddard K, Murphy K, Parsons C, Amy R, Page R (1998) New combination of the old drugs for elderly patients with small-cell lung cancer: a phase II study of the PAVE regimen. J Clin Oncol 16:1940–1947

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wisnivesky JP, Bonomi M, Henschke C, Iannuzzi M, McGinn T (2005) Radiation therapy for the treatment of unresected Stage I–II non-small-cell lung cancer. Chest 128:1461–1467

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wisnivesky JP, Halm E, Bonomi M, Powell C, Bagiella E (2010) Effectiveness of radiation therapy for elderly patients with unresected Stage I and II non-small-cell lung cancer. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 181:264–269

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wurschmidt F, Bunemann H, Bunemann C, Beck-Bornholdt HP, Heilmann HP (1994) Inoperable non-small-cell lung cancer: a retrospective analysis of 427 patients treated with high-dose radiotherapy. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 28:583–588

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yanick R (1997) Cancer burden in the aged: an epidemiologic and demographic overview. Cancer 80:1273–1283

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yu HM, Liu YF, Yu JM, Liu J, Zhao Y, Hou M (2008) Involved-field radiotherapy is effective for patients 70 years old or more with early stage non-small-cell lung cancer. Radiother Oncol 87:29–34

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yuen AR, Zou G, Turrisi AT, Sause W, Komaki R, Wagner H, Aisner SC, Livingston RB, Blum R, Johnson DH (2000) Similar outcome of elderly patients in intergroup trial 0096: Cisplatin, etoposide, and thoracic radiotherapy administered once or twice daily in limited stage small-cell lung carcinoma. Cancer 89:1953–1960

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zachariah B, Balducci L, Venkattaramanabalaji GV, Casey L, Greenberg HM, DelRegato JA (1997) Radiotherapy for cancer patients aged 80 and older: a study of effectiveness and side effects. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 39:1125–1129

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Lung Diseases, Sremska Kamenica, Serbia

    Branislav Jeremić & Željko Dobrić

Authors
  1. Branislav Jeremić
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Željko Dobrić
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Branislav Jeremić .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Lung Diseases, Institutski put 4, Sremska Kamenica, 21204, Serbia

    Branislav Jeremic

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Jeremić, B., Dobrić, Ž. (2011). Radiation Therapy for Lung Cancer in Elderly. In: Jeremic, B. (eds) Advances in Radiation Oncology in Lung Cancer. Medical Radiology(). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/174_2011_254

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/174_2011_254

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-19924-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-19925-7

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation