title: A phase II study of pemetrexed in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: Pemetrexed has demonstrated activity in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines, and has a manageable toxicity profile in clinical trials, suggesting its potential as a treatment for HCC patients. A multicenter, Phase II community-based study was conducted to assess the response rate and toxicity profile of single-agent pemetrexed in first-line patients with advanced or metastatic HCC. Patients premedicated with folic acid, vitamin B(12), and dexamethasone were administered pemetrexed 600 mg/m(2) IV on day 1 of each 21-day cycle until disease progression. This nonrandomized study employed Simon's 2-stage design, enrolling 21 eligible patients in the first stage, stopping accrual if < or =2 responders were observed. Responses were four stable disease, 14 progressive disease, and three not evaluable: two had early toxicities (renal/liver failure, sepsis) and one was noncompliant. The most common grade 3 hematological toxicities were neutropenia 6 of 21 (29%) and thrombocytopenia 3 of 21 (14%); with no grade 4 toxicities. Thirteen patients died on-study: 12 PD and one liver failure; none were drug-related. The median survival was 5.2 months (range, <1-12.2). The planned second stage was cancelled, and the trial was closed owing to lack of response. While pemetrexed was tolerated in this patient population, it was not active.
authors.affiliation: US Oncology Research, Inc., Houston, TX, USA. Allen.Cohn@usoncology.com
authors.forename: Allen L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Cohn
authors.forename: J William
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Myers
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mamus
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Deur
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nicol
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hood
authors.forename: Muhammad M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Des
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ilegbodu
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Asmar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005971:Glutamates / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006147:Guanine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D000068437:Pemetrexed; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D005971:Glutamates; D000068437:Pemetrexed; D006147:Guanine; D003907:Dexamethasone; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12