[Efficacy and toxicity of pemetrexed monotherapy for previously untreated elderly patients with non-squamous cell lung cancer with wild-type(or unknown)EGFR status].

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The efficacy of docetaxel, vinorelbine, or gemcitabine monotherapy in previously untreated elderly patients with non-small cell lung cancer has been reported.Pemetrexed monotherapy has shown clinically equivalent efficacy to docetaxel, a standard therapeutic option, in patients with previously treated non-small cell lung cancer and in those with a lower incidence of toxicity such as febrile neutropenia.

OBJECTIVE:

In the present study, we aimed to investigate the efficacy and toxicity of pemetrexed in previously untreated elderly patients with non-squamous cell lung cancer and compare the results with those of docetaxel, considered a standard chemotherapeutic agent.

METHODS:

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with non-squamous cell lung cancer with wild-type(or unknown)epidermal growth factor receptor status who received pemetrexed or docetaxel monotherapy as first-line chemotherapy.

RESULTS:

We analyzed 6 patients with lung adenocarcinoma in the pemetrexed group and 6 patients with lung adenocarcinoma in the docetaxel group. The median progression-free survival was 3.6 months for patients receiving pemetrexed and 3.1 months for those receiving docetaxel(p=0.45). The median overall survival was 14.8 months in the pemetrexed group and 10.9 months in the docetaxel group(p=0.36).Patients who received docetaxel were more likely to have grade 3 or 4 neutropenia and febrile neutropenia than those receiving pemetrexed.However, 2 patients who received pemetrexed showed grade 3 pneumonitis.

CONCLUSION:

Pemetrexed monotherapy is a promising treatment for previously untreated elderly patients with non-squamous cell lung cancer.

• Authors: Minehiko Inomata, Ryuji Hayashi, Kotaro Tokui, Seisuke Okazawa, Chihiro Taka, Kenta Kambara, Kensuke Suzuki, Toru Yamada, Toshiro Miwa, Shoko Matsui, Tatsuhiko Kashii, Kazuyuki Tobe
• Journal: Gan to kagaku ryoho. Cancer & chemotherapy (Gan To Kagaku Ryoho) Vol. 41 Issue 7 Pg. 849-52 (Jul 2014) ISSN: 0385-0684 [Print] Japan
• PMID: 25131870 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
• Glutamates
• Pemetrexed
• Guanine
• EGFR protein, human
• ErbB Receptors

Topics

• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung (drug therapy, genetics)
• ErbB Receptors (genetics)
• Female
• Glutamates (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Guanine (adverse effects, analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Male
• Pemetrexed
• Retrospective Studies
• Treatment Outcome