title: Pemetrexed as a single agent in the therapy of advanced lung cancer.
abstract: Pemetrexed is a multitargeted antifolate with activity as a single agent against non-small cell lung cancer at a recommended dose of 500 mg/m(2) as a 10-minute infusion every 21 days. The response rate in untreated patients with stage IIIB/IV disease is from 18% to 23%. It is also active in the second-line setting in patients progressing after pretreatment with a number of drugs or after a very short treatment-free interval. The response rate in these difficult-to-treat patients is approximately 9%. Toxicity in both situations is mild; myelotoxicity is primarily seen. This review describes phase I and II studies performed before folic acid and vitamin B(12) supplementation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Vrije Universiteit, University Hospital Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands..
authors.forename: Pieter E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Postmus
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Bunn
mesh_terms: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017321:Clinical Trials, Phase I as Topic; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D005493:Folic Acid Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005971:Glutamates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006147:Guanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000068437:Pemetrexed
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D005493:Folic Acid Antagonists; D005971:Glutamates; D000068437:Pemetrexed; D006147:Guanine