The efficacy and safety of ramucirumab plus docetaxel in older patients with advanced non‐small cell lung cancer

Abstract Background Ramucirumab plus docetaxel (RAM+DOC) is expected to prolong survival in patients with advanced non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); however, the efficacy and safety for older patients remains unknown. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of RAM+DOC in patients 75 years and older. Methods We retrospectively reviewed consecutive patients with advanced NSCLC who had received RAM+DOC treatment at three institutions. We compared the efficacy and safety in patients 75 years and older to those under 75 years of age. Results A total of 114 patients were identified. The median progression‐free survival, time to treatment failure and overall survival was 3.6 (95% CI: 0.4–6.7), 3.1 (95% CI: 2.4–3.9) and 11.2 months (95% CI: 5.6–16.8) in the older group (N = 23), and 4.2 (95% CI: 3.3–5.0), 3.4 (95% CI: 3.3–5.0) and 12.2 months (95% CI: 9.1–15.4) in the younger group (N = 91), respectively. Survival curves were similar for each group, while the objective response rate was 30.4% (95% CI: 13.2–52.9%) in older patients and 35.2% (95% CI, 25.4–45.9%) for the younger group. A total of 22 older patients (95.7%) and 73 (80.2%) younger patients received primary prophylactic pegylated‐granulocyte‐colony stimulating factor (PEG‐G‐CSF). Four older patients (17.3%) and 14 younger patients (15.3%) discontinued RAM+DOC due to adverse events. Conclusions RAM+DOC is expected to be efficacious and tolerable in older patients when supported with prophylactic PEG‐G‐CSF therapy. Key points Significant findings of the study ・PFS, OS, and ORR in older patients were similar to those under 75 years of age. ・Safety of RAM+DOC was well tolerated in older patients with prophylactic PEG‐G‐CSF. ・Prophylactic PEG‐G‐CSF with RAM+DOC may contribute to better efficacy. What this study adds ・This study suggests that RAM+DOC with prophylactic PEG‐G‐CSF is expected to be a useful option in older patients with advanced NSCLC.