Chemotherapy in the Older Patient with Operable Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Neoadjuvant and Adjuvant Regimens

Several excellent, non-age-specific review articles and meta-analyses summarize in detail the available trials of surgery and either induction or adjuvant therapy with or without local radiotherapy in the treatment of early non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A detailed review of the literature on the comprehensive assessment of and chemotherapy in the elderly patient with NSCLC is beyond the scope of this article. Instead, the goal is to amalgamate the two topics and develop some practical guidelines to assist the clinician in deciding which therapies most are appropriate for older patients with potentially curable NSCLC.