This biweekly combination is feasible in elderly lung cancer patients with a high burden of comorbidity and dependence. Toxicity is acceptable, whereas response rate and survival fall in the range of active regimens. ADL and IADL indices allow the identification of elderly patients with a worse prognosis.
Primary choriocarcinoma of the lung is an extremely rare tumour, with about 20 cases reported in the literature. The case records of 3 female patients with nongestational, extragonadal choriocarcinoma apparently arising in the lung are presented to illustrate its clinical spectrum, the utility of serum beta human chorionic gonadotropin, and responsiveness to chemotherapy. Most plausible origins of these malignancies and differential diagnosis are briefly discussed.
Sequential therapy with gemcitabine followed by paclitaxel was well tolerated with a low proportion of grade 3 or 4 adverse events, the absence of unexpected toxicity and with an improvement in quality of life. Unfortunately, the response rate did not meet the minimally required rate of 20% and the study was prematurely closed. VEGF was identified as a poor prognostic factor for TTP and survival.
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