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Objective Cancer is closely related to age, and the incidence of cancer increases with age. However, there are few studies on the relationship between age and clinical characteristics of lung cancer. Patients and methods We collected all the consecutive lung cancer cases from 2012 to 2017 in our hospital and divided them into 6 groups according to their ages: ≤40 y/o, 41~50 y/o, 51~60 y/o, 61~70 y/o, 71~80 y/o and >80 y/o. The clinical characteristics and prognosis of these patients were evaluated. Results There were 1143 cases diagnosed in our hospital from 2012 to 2017. There were more non-smokers (p 80 y/o group were associated with a higher mortality risk, while the patients in other groups had the similar mortality risk. Conclusion There are some differences in clinical characteristics and prognosis among different age groups. The reasons behind the phenomenon are largely unclear. The age should be taken into account when we develop clinical trials.

Xiaorao Chen,1,* Xiaoling Han,2,* Honglian Zhou,3,* Yahai Liang,1 Zhong Huang,1 Shujun Li,1 Yanming Lin,1 Xiaobi Huang,1 Jiancong Wu,1 Wenmei Su,1 Zhennan Lai,1 Zhixiong Yang1 1Department of Pulmonary Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524001, People’s Republic of China; 2Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524001, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Ultrasound, Guangdong Medical University Affiliated Hospital, Zhanjiang 524001, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Zhixiong Yang; Zhennan Lai Tel +8613802822690; +8613822526918Email yangzhixiong068@126.com; laizhenn@163.comObjective: Cancer is closely related to age, and the incidence of cancer increases with age. However, there are few studies on the relationship between age and clinical characteristics of lung cancer.Patients and Methods: We collected all the consecutive lung cancer cases from 2012 to 2017 in our hospital and divided them into 6 groups according to their ages: ≤ 40 y/o, 41∼ 50 y/o, 51∼ 60 y/o, 61∼ 70 y/o, 71∼ 80 y/o and > 80 y/o. The clinical characteristics and prognosis of these patients were evaluated.Results: There were 1143 cases diagnosed in our hospital from 2012 to 2017. There were more non-smokers (p< 0.01), stage IV (p< 0.01) and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) fusion (p< 0.01) patients but less stage I patients in ≤ 40 y/o group compared with other age groups. It seemed that older patients were more likely had co-exist driver gene mutations (p=0.04). There was no significant difference in overall survival (OS) among these 6 age groups. However, the age may be an independent prognostic factor compared with the patients in ≤ 40 y/o group, the patients in > 80 y/o group were associated with a higher mortality risk, while the patients in other groups had the similar mortality risk.Conclusion: There are some differences in clinical characteristics and prognosis among different age groups. The reasons behind the phenomenon are largely unclear. The age should be taken into account when we develop clinical trials.Keywords: age, lung cancer, clinical characteristics, clinical trials

To compare the efficacy and safety of etoposide combined with lobaplatin or cisplatin in the first-line treatment of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC).A total of 98 extensive-stage SCLC patients treated at the Oncology Department from March 2015 to March 2017 were enrolled and divided into etoposide + lobaplatin group (EL group, n=49) and etoposide + cisplatin group (EP group, n=49) using a random number table. The clinical data of all patients were collected, and the short-term effective rate, changes in the levels of serum tumor markers carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cytokeratin 19 fragment (CYFRA21-1) and neurone specific enolase (NSE) before and after chemotherapy and adverse reactions were compared between the two groups. Moreover, the patients were followed up, and the overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were recorded.In EL group and EP group, the level of serum NSE significantly declined after treatment compared with that before treatment, but the levels of serum CEA and CYFRA21-1 were not significantly decreased after chemotherapy compared with those before chemotherapy. The incidence rate of leukopenia, erythropenia and thrombocytopenia was 71.4%, 44.9% and 40.8%, respectively, in EL group, and 85.7%, 30.6% and 24.5%, respectively, in EP group, and the degree I-II decline was more common in both groups. The proportion of gastrointestinal reactions was 14.3% and 59.2%, respectively, in EL group and EP group, with significant difference between the two groups. During follow-up, the 1-year OS was 59.2% (29/49) and 51.9% (25/49), respectively, and the 2-year OS was 26.5% (13/49) and 20.4% (10/49), respectively, in EL group and EP group. The survival curves of were plotted using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test showed no statistically significant differences in the OS and PFS between the two groups.The short-term efficacy of EL and EP regimens is equivalent in the first-line treatment of extensive-stage SCLC, both OS and PFS are similar, and the adverse reactions can be tolerated. The EL regimen produced mild gastrointestinal reactions, and is worthy of clinical popularization.