['It was found that second-line or thereafter therapies for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who failed previous chemotherapy yielded a modest survival benefit. However, whether elderly patients (> or =70 years) benefit and are as suitable for salvage therapy as nonelderly patients (<70 years) are unknown. Whether epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) is more favorable than chemotherapeutic agents as a salvage therapy agent in elderly patients with NSCLC is also undetermined.', 'We retrospectively reviewed and updated the data of our patients with NSCLC who received second-line salvage therapies, classified them into elderly and nonelderly groups, and compared the efficacy, toxicities, and survival of the patients.', 'Four hundred sixty-one cases were reviewed. The nonelderly group had a similar response rate, control rate, and median survival time than the elderly group (p = 0.2, p = 0.9, and p = 0.5, respectively). The median progression-free time was numerically longer in the elderly than the nonelderly patients (p = 0.08). The nonelderly group had statistically insignificantly less hematologic toxicities than the elderly group, but more nausea and vomiting. In addition, the use of EGFR-TKI salvage therapy, compared with salvage chemotherapies in the elderly group, resulted in a similar disease control rate and median survival time and more favorable toxicity profiles.'] Is second-line therapy for elderly patients with non-small cell lung cancer who failed previous chemotherapy as effective as for younger patients?