Rates of Systemic Treatment for Metastatic Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer Among Older Adults

What is the prevalence of systemic treatment among patients with metastatic non–small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC)?In this cohort study of more than 250 000 older patients with mNSCLC from 2006 through 2021, only 46.8% ever received systemic therapy, with minimal trend toward increased treatment over time. Factors associated with receipt of treatment included surviving 90 days, referral to an oncologist, adenocarcinoma histologic findings, low comorbidity burden, and being married.Despite the availability of more effective and better tolerated treatments, about half of patients with metastatic lung cancer never received systemic therapy, and treatment rates changed minimally over time.

Corresponding Authors: Adam H. Fox, MD, MS (foxah@musc.edu), and Gerard A. Silvestri, MD, MS (silvestri@musc.edu), Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, 96 Jonathan Lucas St, Charleston, SC 29425.

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