title: Pemetrexed in front-line chemotherapy for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.
abstract: Pemetrexed (Alimta) possesses broad antitumor activity. It has been evaluated in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) as front-line chemotherapy in a comprehensive phase II evaluation. While various antifolates have been previously evaluated in clinical trials, drug development was stopped or delayed in light of their lack of efficacy or occurrence of life-threatening toxicities. While similar trends were observed with pemetrexed early in development, investigators instituted folic acid and vitamin B12 supplementation to minimize these toxicities without hampering drug efficacy. This article briefly summarizes the current evidence that supports the role of pemetrexed-based combinations in clinical trials for chemonaive patients with advanced NSCLC.
authors.affiliation: University of Torino, Department of Clinical & Biological Sciences, S. Luigi Gonzaga Thoracic Oncology Unit, Orbassano (Torino), Italy. giorgio.scagliotti@unito.it
authors.forename: Giorgio V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Scagliotti
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Novello
authors.forename: Lucio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Crino
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rosell
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D005260:Female; D005493:Folic Acid Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005971:Glutamates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006147:Guanine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D000068437:Pemetrexed; D013940:Thymidylate Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D005493:Folic Acid Antagonists; D005971:Glutamates; D000068437:Pemetrexed; D006147:Guanine; D013940:Thymidylate Synthase; D002945:Cisplatin