Morimoto K, Yamada T, Yokoi T, et al. - Elderly patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) exhibited poor clinical outcomes in relation to pemetrexed regimen, but not the paclitaxel regimen, in this retrospective study.

• A total 203 advanced NSCLC patients managed with the combination therapy of pembrolizumab and chemotherapy were included.

• Patients who were administered pembrolizumab with platinum and pemetrexed (pemetrexed regimen) and those who were given pembrolizumab with carboplatin and nab-paclitaxel/paclitaxel (paclitaxel regimen) were analyzed.

• Elderly patients (aged ≥75 years) with NSCLC had significantly shorter progression-free and overall survival, vs non-elderly patients (aged <75 years) with NSCLC in the pemetrexed regimen group.

• In the paclitaxel regimen group, progression-free and overall survival did not differ significantly between elderly and non-elderly NSCLC patients.

• Prognostic factors included poor performance status and low albumin level.