title: Systemic chemotherapy with pemetrexed and cisplatin for malignant peritoneal mesothelioma: a single institution experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Primary malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare malignancy with an unfavorable prognosis. Pemetrexed has proven effective in the treatment of malignant mesothelioma, alone or in combination with platinum agents. In the present study, chemo-naïve patients were evaluated for the efficacy and safety of the pemetrexed-cisplatin combination.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six patients with diffuse peritoneal mesothelioma were treated with 6 cycles of pemetrexed (500 mg/m2) and cisplatin (75 mg/m2). Chemotherapy was administered on an outpatient basis every 3 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complete response was observed in 2 patients (33%) and partial response was observed in 3 patients (50%). The estimated median overall survival was 24 months and the estimated median time to disease progression was 9.5 months. The regimen was well tolerated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Though our data reflect a small sample size, pemetrexed plus cisplatin accomplished a particularly high clinical benefit rate on chemo-naïve patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Alexandra Hospital, University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lainakis
authors.forename: Flora
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zagouri
authors.forename: Efstathios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kastritis
authors.forename: Theodoros N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Sergentanis
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bozas
authors.forename: Meletios A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Dimopoulos
authors.forename: Christos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Papadimitriou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005971:Glutamates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006147:Guanine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D000068437:Pemetrexed; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D005971:Glutamates; D000068437:Pemetrexed; D006147:Guanine; D002945:Cisplatin