Stage III Lung Cancer Patients Aged Over 70 Can Also Undergo Active Treatment

A study has found that standard treatments can be actively applied to elderly lung cancer patients aged 70 and older.

Jung Hyun Kim, Professor of Pulmonology at Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital. Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital

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On April 20, Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital announced that a research team led by Jung Hyun Kim, Professor of Pulmonology, analyzed concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) treatment outcomes in 131 patients with unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer. The results showed no significant difference in prognosis between elderly patients aged 70 and older and their younger counterparts. The study was published last year in the international journal 'Journal of Thoracic Disease.'

The subjects analyzed were patients treated at four hospitals under the Hallym University Medical Center between 2012 and 2023. The research team compared 47 elderly patients (aged 70 and above) with 84 younger patients (under 70).

The treatment completion rate was similar between groups: 89.4% for the elderly group and 90.5% for the younger group. The median progression-free survival period, indicating the duration in which cancer progression was suppressed, was 9.9 months for the elderly group and 12.9 months for the younger group, with no statistically significant difference. Adjusted analyses accounting for gender, smoking status, general physical condition, and comorbidities also found no difference between the groups.

Adverse event rates also did not show any clear difference by age. The incidence of esophagitis was 8.5% in the elderly group and 20.2% in the younger group, while radiation pneumonitis was observed in 21.3% and 27.4% of patients, respectively. The incidence of neutropenia was comparable at 19.1% for the elderly group and 15.5% for the younger group.

The research team highlighted the high treatment completion rate even among elderly patients. They explained that if standard treatment can be maintained to the end, there is no need to restrict treatment solely based on age.

However, the team emphasized that for patients aged 75 and older, prognosis may vary depending on overall physical condition and comorbidities, making it necessary to conduct a comprehensive geriatric assessment prior to treatment.

Professor Kim, who led the study, stated, "This study is significant in that it provides objective data supporting the consideration of active treatment for elderly lung cancer patients who may have previously given up on treatment due to age alone. With advances in anticancer drugs, radiation technology, and supportive care, if the patient's general condition is good, aggressive treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy can be considered."

He added, "However, for very elderly patients aged 75 and above, since overall survival is shorter and the risk of death is higher, it is essential to perform a comprehensive geriatric assessment-evaluating physical and cognitive function, comorbidities, and current medication use-before making treatment decisions. It is important to establish personalized treatment strategies tailored to each patient's condition."

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