title: Pemetrexed in the treatment of malignant mesothelioma: results from an expanded access program in Germany.
abstract: An international expanded access program was initiated to provide access to treatment with pemetrexed prior registration and reimbursement for malignant mesothelioma (MM). Chemonaïve and pretreated patients with inoperable MM of the pleura or peritoneum were eligible. This report describes the results obtained in German centers. Investigators could choose between three treatments: Pemetrexed 500 mg/m(2) alone (P) or in combination with cisplatin 75 mg/m(2) (PC) or carboplatin AUC 5 (PCb). From November 2002 to June 2004, a total of 567 patients (554 with pleural MM; 41% pretreated) were included. Of 548 evaluable patients with pleural MM, 191 received P, 137 PC and 220 PCb. Patients in the P group were more often pretreated (70%) and had worse performance status compared with the other groups. In the P, PC, and PCb groups overall response rate (ORR) was 16%, 24% and 18%, median time to progression (TTP) was 5.5, 8.2, and 6.9 months, and median overall survival (OS) was 8.7, 11.3 and 9.7 months respectively. Efficacy outcomes were better for chemonaïve than for pretreated patients, and P was less hematotoxic than PC or PCb. Treatment of pleural MM with pemetrexed alone or in combination with platinum was safe and active as first and second-line therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery, Hospital Grosshansdorf, Woehrendamm 80, D-22927 Grosshansdorf, Germany. dr.martin.reck@web.de
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reck
authors.forename: Rolf A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Stahel
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: von Pawel
authors.forename: Meinolf
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karthaus
authors.forename: Soenke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Korfee
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Serke
authors.forename: Wolfgang H-W
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Schuette
authors.forename: Corinna
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eschbach
authors.forename: Thomas H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Fink
authors.forename: Monika I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Leschinger
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Manegold
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018450:Disease Progression; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D005971:Glutamates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006147:Guanine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D000068437:Pemetrexed; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D011379:Prognosis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D005971:Glutamates; D000068437:Pemetrexed; D006147:Guanine; D016190:Carboplatin; D002945:Cisplatin