title: Pemetrexed and cisplatin in patients with advanced gastric cancer: a Korean cancer study group multicenter phase II study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pemetrexed is a multitargeted antifolate enzyme inhibitor, which has activity against a variety of tumors, including advanced gastric cancer (AGC). The aim of this study was to assess efficacy and safety of pemetrexed plus cisplatin (PemCis) combination in the treatment of AGC in Korean patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a multicenter, single arm, open label study. Patients with no prior palliative chemotherapy received pemetrexed 500 mg/m(2) and cisplatin 75 mg/m(2) day 1, every 3 weeks plus folic acid and vitamin B(12) supplementation. Response rate was assessed according to response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST) criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 50 patients evaluable for efficacy, 13 had partial response for an overall response rate of 26% (95% CI, 14.6-40.3%) and 15 (30%) had stable disease. Median time to progression was 2.8 months (95%CI, 2.2-4.4 months), and median overall survival was 6.6 months (95% CI, 4.8-10.4 months). Of the 51 patients evaluable for safety, the most frequent NCI-CTC grade 3/4 toxicities were neutropenia in 49% of patients (25% of cycles) and anorexia in 10% of patients (4% of cycles).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PemCis has a modest activity and acceptable toxicity profile in patients with AGC. Clinical trials with different combinations and dose regimens are, therefore, warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Anam Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yeul Hong
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyun Cheol
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Won Ki
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Sook Ryun
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Chul Soo
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Tae-Yue
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sang Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Byung-Joo
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Soo Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.forename: Yung-Jue
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Bang
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; 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; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D000068437:Pemetrexed; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D005971:Glutamates; D000068437:Pemetrexed; D006147:Guanine; D002945:Cisplatin