Efficacy and safety of icotinib in the elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Objective To observe the efficacy and safety of icotinib in the elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer( NSCLC). Methods A total of 41 advanced NSCLC patients aged >60 years old were retrospectively analyzed from January 2015 to February 2020. Results The clinical data of 41 elderly patients including 28 cases of epidermal growth factor receptor( EGFR)mutation and 13 cases of wild type with advanced NSCLC were enrolled in this study. The patients’ overall objective response rate( ORR) was 53. 7% and the disease control rate( DCR) was 80. 5%; In the patients with EGFR mutation,ORR was 67. 9%,DCR was 92. 9%,which were significantly higher than those in the patients with EGFR gene wild type. Single factor analysis showed that EGFR mutation and performance status( PS) score were related with PFS( P < 0. 05),and multiple Cox regression analysis showed that PS score was the independent influencing factor of the prognosis. The most common adverse events were rash,diarrhea and fatigue. Only 2 patients discontinued the medication due to severe liver injury. Conclusions Icotinib is a safe and effective targeted therapy in the elderly patients with advanced NSCLC,especially in the patients with better PS scores and EGFR mutation.