Erlotinib Versus Carboplatin/Vinorelbine in Elderly Patients With Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)
Status:
Unknown status
Trial end date:
1969-12-31
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
60% of all malignant diseases occur in patients who are 65 years or older. For these
patients, aggressive treatments are often not suitable due to reduced life-expectancy,
reduced general condition, comorbidities, and reduced vital functions which can lead to
increased adverse effects of chemotherapy. Therefore, it is important to investigate
alternative therapy options for elderly patients.
Erlotinib is an orally applied medication which is associated with reasonable toxicity. This
targeted agent may prove an effective and well-tolerated first-line therapy in elderly
patients with advanced non small cell lung cancer.
Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the progression-free survival of the
combination of vinorelbine and carboplatin in comparison to erlotinib. Given that there will
be no significant reduction of efficiency this may provide elderly patients of more than 70
years of age with an active oral substance without subjecting them to the sometimes severe
adverse effect of the chemotherapy.