Table 1 Demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients

Age (years)

  < 65

100 (50)

  ≥ 65

102 (50)

Gender

  Men

179 (89)

  Women

23 (11)

Clinical stage

  Limited

95 (47)

  Extensive

107 (53)

Treatment modality

  Chemotherapy alone

117 (58)

  Chemotherapy and radiotherapy

85 (42)

Performance status (ECOG)

  0.1

181 (90)

  ≥ 2

21 (10)

Albumin^a

  < 3.5 g/dl

31 (15)

  ≥ 3.5 g/dl

170 (85)

Lactate dehydrogenase^b

  < 480 IU/l

111 (64)

  ≥ 480 IU/l

63 (36)