Practical Geriatrics ›› 2010, Vol. 24 ›› Issue (1): 66-.

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Clinical observation of the effects of  pemetrexed or docetaxel as secondline drug for  advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer in elderly patients

  

  • Online:2010-02-20 Published:2010-03-26

Abstract:

ObjectiveTo observe the efficacy and toxic reaction of  pemetrexed or docetaxel as secondline drug for  advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC)in elderly patients.MethodsFiftysix elderly patients with  relapse NSCLC were divided into two groups.In singleagent pemetrexed group,26 cases received pemetrexed at a dose of 500 mg/m2 on first day,and repeated every 3 to 4 weeks. In singleangent docetaxel group,30 cases were treated with docetaxel at a dose of 35 mg/m2 weekly for 4 weeks as a  cycle.ResultsThe effective rate in pemetrexed group and docetaxel group was 192%and 167%respectively;the median survival time was 98 months and 81 months, respectively;1year survival rate was 192% and 200%, respectively.In two groups,  the toxicities were tolerable.There was no grade  Ⅲ or Ⅳ  hematological toxicity in pemetrexed group.ConclusionsElderly patients with relapse NSCLC could benefit from singleagent pemetrexed or docetaxel as secondline treatment. Pemetrexed has a more tolerable toxicity than docetaxel.