Onkológia 6/2023

News in the treatment of lung tumors in the elderly

Lung cancer has the highest mortality rate among all cancers in most developed countries. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for approximately 80% of lung cancers, most of which are advanced by the time of diagnosis. In recent years, with an aging global population, the number of elderly patients with lung cancer is also increasing. In fact, approximately 70% and 37% of patients newly diagnosed with lung cancer are over the age of 65 and 75 years, respectively. Meanwhile, patients aged 75 years or older comprise only 9% of clinical trial participants. Generally, elderly patients with cancer tend to have more significant comorbidities and are more frail than nonelderly patients. Therefore, it is crucial to develop a more optimum treatment strategy for this population. Recent developments in NSCLC therapies that specifically target driver oncogenes, have changed the standard of care . Also, is important impact and role of immunotherapy in elderly patients with NSCLC.

Keywords: immunotherapy, immune checkpoint inhibitors, non-small cell lung cancer