WCLC 2025 - Posters & ePosters-EP.13.12 A Retrospective Study of the Efficacy of Chemoimmunotherapy for Extended-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer in Elderly Patients

EP.13.12 A Retrospective Study of the Efficacy of Chemoimmunotherapy for Extended-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer in Elderly Patients

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This retrospective study evaluated the efficacy and safety of chemoimmunotherapy—specifically, combination therapy of carboplatin, etoposide, and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) such as atezolizumab or durvalumab—in elderly Japanese patients (aged 75 and older) with extended-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). Conducted at four cancer centers in Ehime Prefecture, Japan, the study analyzed medical records from August 2019 to December 2023, including 77 patients divided into non-elderly (<75 years, n=40) and elderly (≥75 years, n=37) groups.<br /><br />Key findings revealed no statistically significant differences in overall survival (median OS: 369 days vs. 300 days, p=0.228) or progression-free survival (median PFS: 168 days vs. 148 days, p=0.07) between the two age groups. The overall response rates were similarly high (70.0% non-elderly vs. 78.4% elderly; p=0.259), and disease control rates also showed no significant difference. Despite elderly patients receiving lower initial doses and fewer maintenance cycles, treatment effectiveness remained comparable, suggesting that reduced dosing does not significantly compromise outcomes.<br /><br />Safety profiles were similar, with adverse events manageable and only one treatment-related death from febrile neutropenia observed (in the non-elderly group). Liver metastasis emerged as a significant prognostic factor for poorer survival, while age and other factors were not statistically significant.<br /><br />The study concludes that chemoimmunotherapy with carboplatin, etoposide, and ICIs is a viable and effective treatment option for ES-SCLC patients aged 75 or older. These findings support considering treatment in elderly patients based on clinical condition rather than age alone, potentially with tailored dosing to balance efficacy and tolerability. Limitations include its retrospective design, physician discretion in treatment decisions, and limited sample size, especially for durvalumab cases.

Asset Subtitle

Yoshihiro Taguchi

Meta Tag

Speaker Yoshihiro Taguchi

Topic Small Cell Lung Cancer and Neuroendocrine Tumors

Keywords

chemoimmunotherapy

carboplatin

etoposide

immune checkpoint inhibitors

atezolizumab

durvalumab

elderly patients

extended-stage small cell lung cancer

overall survival

treatment safety