title: Trimetrexate in advanced carcinoma of the esophagus.
abstract: Twenty-four patients with advanced epidermoid carcinoma of the esophagus were treated with trimetrexate (TMTX), a lipid soluble non-classical antifol. Patients were given TMTX 8 mg/m2 intravenously day 1-5 every 28 days. In nine of these patients the dose was escalated to 12 mg/m2 day 1-5 every 28 days. Three patients had a partial response (95% confidence limit 3-32%) with a median response duration of 14 weeks. No hematologic toxicity was documented. Two patients developed moderate stomatitis and only 3 patients experienced any nausea or vomiting. The median survival of all patients is 12 weeks. It is concluded that a higher dose of TMTX should be studied in patients with esophageal cancer in order to assess the true therapeutic value of the agent at a dose closer to the median tolerated dose. A phase II ECOG study using TMTX 12 mg/m2 intravenously day 1-5 every 21 days is currently being conducted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, University of Pretoria, Republic of South Africa.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Alberts
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Falkson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Badata
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Terblanche
authors.forename: E U
authors.initials: EU
authors.lastname: Schmid
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016597:Trimetrexate
chemical_list: D011799:Quinazolines; D016597:Trimetrexate