title: Pemetrexed combined with platinum-based chemotherapy for advanced malignant peritoneal mesothelioma: retrospective analysis of six cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (PM) is an extremely rare disease. Pemetrexed and platinum have been used for advanced PM following malignant pleural mesothelioma (PLM). Because PM differs considerably from PLM in clinical features, the efficacy and safety of these therapies have yet to be established.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six Japanese patients with PM who had been treated with pemetrexed-based chemotherapy in four Institutions were retrospectively identified. Treatment response, progression-free survival, and overall survival were examined. Toxicities of therapy were also evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three patients with mild ascites achieved clinical benefits (one with partial response and two with stable disease). Treatments with reduced cisplatin or carboplatin for patients with massive ascites were safely performed. Median PFS and OS were 7.2 and 13.1 months, respectively. Grade 3 hematological toxicities appeared in two patients with massive ascites.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Selection of chemotherapy based on the patient's condition, such as ascites, might be important for advanced PM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Comprehensive Clinical Oncology, Faculty of Medial Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan. e-baba@c-oncology.med.kyushu-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Michitaka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kusaba
authors.forename: Akitaka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Makiyama
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ariyama
authors.forename: Shuji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arita
authors.forename: Hisanobu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oda
authors.forename: Taito
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Esaki
authors.forename: Kotoe
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takayoshi
authors.forename: Keita
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Uchino
authors.forename: Shingo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: Hozumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kumagai
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Iwama
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shirakawa
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mitsugi
authors.forename: Shigeo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takaishi
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Akashi
authors.forename: Eishi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baba
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005971:Glutamates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006147:Guanine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000086002:Mesothelioma, Malignant; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D000068437:Pemetrexed; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D005971:Glutamates; D000068437:Pemetrexed; D006147:Guanine; D016190:Carboplatin; D002945:Cisplatin
keywords: Peritoneal mesothelioma; ascites; chemotherapy; pemetrexed; platinum