Pemetrexed versus docetaxel single agent chemotherapy in chemotherapy-naive elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer

To compare the efficacy and toxicity of pemetrexed and docetaxel single agent chemotherapy in chemotherapy-naive elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer, the clinical data of 54 elderly patients were retrospectively analyzed. 19 patients accepted pemetrexed single agent chemotherapy and 35 patients accepted docetaxel single agent chemotherapy. The median OS of pemetrexed group and docetaxel group was 16.10 months and 18.90 months respectively. In the pemetrexed group, DCR was 73.68%. In the docetaxel group, DCR was 71.43%. No statistically significant difference was found. The toxicity of pemetrexed single agent chemotherapy was lower in terms of hematologic and alopecia. In the subgroup analysis, the OS and DCR of non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer in pemetrexed group were longer and higher than those of the docetaxel group. Elderly patients with good Performance Status and good body condition can tolerate the pemetrexed and docetaxel single agent chemotherapy. The pemetrexed single agent chemotherapy was recommended for lower toxicity, especially in non-squamous patients.