Hematological toxicity associated with gemcitabine/cisplatin in elderly non-small cell lung cancer patients

Introduction: Chemotherapy regimen gemcitabin/cisplatin is indicated in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), stage IIIb and IV with good performance status (according to leading National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guideline). Aim of the study: To compare the hematological toxicity of gemcitabine/cisplatin between elderly and patients younger than 65 years of age. Patients and methods: In our study we observed 253 chemotherapy-naive patients divided into two groups according to their ages: younger then 65 years of age (194 patients) and patients older then 65 years of age (59 patients). Both groups of patients had received chemotherapy regimen: gemcitabine (1000mg/m2 iv. day 1. and day 8.),and cisplatin (50mg/m2 iv. day 1. and day 8.) in three weeks regimen-four cycles. Results: Hematological toxicity were register in 26/194 (13,4%) younger patients compared to 15/59 (25,3%) older patients. Statistical analysis showed significant difference in apperance of hematological toxicity in elderly patients (p=0,046). Anemia occurred in 36 (87,8%)patients. Statistically, there is no significant difference between these two group in appearance of anemia (p=0,591). We found leukopenia in 17 (41,5%) patients, but without statistically significant differences between two groups (p=0,854). Thrombocytopenia were register in 16 (39%) patients, again without statistically significance between the two groups (p=0,274). Conclusion: According to our results, there is no statistically significant differences between this two group of patients in appearance of anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, but generally hematological toxicity is more often in elderly patients.