A phase II trial of pemetrexed in patients with metastatic renal cancer.
BACKGROUND
Metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is rising in incidence but remains difficult to treat. This clinical trial evaluated the effects of pemetrexed (multitargeted antifolate, ALIMTAR) for the treatment of metastatic RCC.


METHODS
Patients were required to have histological diagnosis of metastatic RCC with measurable disease and no prior chemotherapy. In addition, patients were required to have a World Health Organization (WHO) performance status of 0-2 and adequate bone marrow reserve. Patients received pemetrexed at a dose of 600 mg/m2 as a 10 min infusion every 3 weeks. Patients did not receive folic acid or vitamin B12 supplementation.


RESULTS
Thirty-nine patients were enrolled and thirty two were evaluable for response. Three patients had a partial response for a response rate of 9% (95% CI 2-25%). The median time to progressive disease was 10.5 months. Of the nonresponders, twenty two had stable disease (median duration was 5.8 months; range 1.5-27.7) and seven had progressive disease (median time to progression was 5.4 months). Median time to progression for all qualified patients was 5.7 months. Common toxicities experienced were diarrhea and infection. Fatigue, stomatitis, and rash were also reported. The most common hematologic toxicity was grade 3/4 lymphopenia in 76% of patients. Leukopenia, granulocytopenia, and thrombocytopenia were also frequently reported.


CONCLUSIONS
Single-agent pemetrexed has moderate activity in the treatment of metastatic RCC and should be investigated in combination with other potential active agents, as first-line treatment.
Deutsche Klinik fuer Diagnostik, Wiesbaden, Germany.
R
R
Thödtmann
T
T
Sauter
S
S
Weinknecht
L
L
Weissbach
J
J
Blatter
U
U
Ohnmacht
A- R
A
Hanauske
D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005971:Glutamates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006147:Guanine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006397:Hematinics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000068437:Pemetrexed; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D005971:Glutamates; D006397:Hematinics; D000068437:Pemetrexed; D006147:Guanine; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12