title: Phase II trial of raltitrexed ('Tomudex') in advanced small-cell lung cancer.
abstract: Raltitrexed, a thymidylate synthase inhibitor, was given to 21 patients with advanced small-cell lung cancer, at a dose of 3 mg m(-2) as a 15-min intravenous infusion at 21-day intervals. All of the patients had extensive disease and 17 had received prior therapy. Patients with disease refractory to primary chemotherapy were excluded. Forty-one treatment cycles were given (median two, range one to four). The drug was well tolerated. No objective tumour response was documented. The patients had chemoresistant disease, as shown by a response in only one of ten patients who went on to receive alternative cytotoxic regimens. We conclude that raltitrexed given in this schedule is inactive as second line therapy for small-cell lung cancer.
authors.affiliation: CRC Department of Medical Oncology, Christie Hospital, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Woll
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Basser
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Le Chevalier
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Drings
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Perez Manga
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adenis
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Seymour
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Thatcher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015996:Survival Rate; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013940:Thymidylate Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D011799:Quinazolines; D013876:Thiophenes; D013940:Thymidylate Synthase; C068874:raltitrexed