title: Pemetrexed plus platinum as the first-line treatment option for advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
abstract: To compare the efficacy and toxicities of pemetrexed plus platinum with other platinum regimens in patients with previously untreated advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
  
  
  METHODS
  A meta-analysis was performed using trials identified through PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases. Two investigators independently assessed the quality of the trials and extracted data. The outcomes included overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), response rate (RR), and different types of toxicity. Hazard ratios (HRs), odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled using RevMan software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four trials involving 2,518 patients with previously untreated advanced NSCLC met the inclusion criteria. Pemetrexed plus platinum chemotherapy (PPC) improved survival compared with other platinum-based regimens (PBR) in patients with advanced NSCLC (HR = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.83-1.00, p = 0.04), especially in those with non-squamous histology (HR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.77-0.98, p = 0.02). No statistically significant improvement in either PFS or RR was found in PPC group as compared with PBR group (HR = 1.03, 95% CI: 0.94-1.13, p = 0.57; OR = 1.15, 95% CI: 0.95-1.39, p = 0.15, respectively). Compared with PBR, PPC led to less grade 3-4 neutropenia and leukopenia but more grade 3-4 nausea. However, hematological toxicity analysis revealed significant heterogeneities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that PPC in the first-line setting leads to a significant survival advantage with acceptable toxicities for advanced NSCLC patients, especially those with non-squamous histology, as compared with other PRB. PPC could be considered as the first-line treatment option for advanced NSCLC patients, especially those with non-squamous histology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Peifang
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Aimei
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Guoliang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiaolian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Xuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yueping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Suyun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Changhui
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005971:Glutamates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006147:Guanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068437:Pemetrexed; D017671:Platinum Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005971:Glutamates; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D017671:Platinum Compounds; D000068437:Pemetrexed; D006147:Guanine