The role of pemetrexed in second-line chemotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer.
Despite improvements in first-line therapy for advanced NSCLC all patients with metastatic disease will progress at some point. Patients with favorable prognostic factors such as good performance status, non-squamous histology, stable weight, and perhaps female gender are more likely to receive second-line chemotherapy. Currently the United States FDA recognizes three single agents (docetaxel, erlotinib, and pemetrexed) as established for providing a benefit in patients who have experienced progression after first-line therapy. This review focus on the role of PEM in the treatment of advanced NSCLC in patients who have experienced disease progression during or after first-line therapy. The multi-targeted antifolate pemetrexed is equivalent to docetaxel for second-line therapy and with less toxicity.
Pacific Cancer Centre, Singapore. stucker@pacificcancercentre.com
Steven
S
Tucker
D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005493:Folic Acid Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / 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; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000068437:Pemetrexed
D005493:Folic Acid Antagonists; D005971:Glutamates; D000068437:Pemetrexed; D006147:Guanine