Although most oncologists don’t have an age limit with regard to the use of bevacizumab, it is also apparent that they don’t believe it is necessary to offer the drug to all older patients. In this regard, nearly 60% of our respondents would not include bevacizumab as part of initial therapy for an otherwise healthy 80-year-old patient with low tumor burden, asymptomatic, metastatic adenocarcinoma. The faculty agree and would use carboplatin/pemetrexed. In terms of bevacizumab in the elderly, Dr Wakelee generally reserves its use to those with “pretty high disease burden where they really need their cancer to shrink to feel well.”

Gajra A et al. Management of patients with lung cancer and poor performance status. J Natl Compr Canc Netw 2014;12(7):1015-25. Abstract

Marr AS et al. Advanced lung cancer in the older patient: Is there a role for bevacizumab? J Thorac Dis 2012;4(6):629-30. Abstract