title: [Efficacy and toxicity of pemetrexed monotherapy for previously untreated elderly patients with non-squamous cell lung cancer with wild-type(or unknown)EGFR status].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The efficacy of docetaxel, vinorelbine, or gemcitabine monotherapy in previously untreated elderly patients with non-small cell lung cancer has been reported.Pemetrexed monotherapy has shown clinically equivalent efficacy to docetaxel, a standard therapeutic option, in patients with previously treated non-small cell lung cancer and in those with a lower incidence of toxicity such as febrile neutropenia.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In the present study, we aimed to investigate the efficacy and toxicity of pemetrexed in previously untreated elderly patients with non-squamous cell lung cancer and compare the results with those of docetaxel, considered a standard chemotherapeutic agent.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with non-squamous cell lung cancer with wild-type(or unknown)epidermal growth factor receptor status who received pemetrexed or docetaxel monotherapy as first-line chemotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We analyzed 6 patients with lung adenocarcinoma in the pemetrexed group and 6 patients with lung adenocarcinoma in the docetaxel group. The median progression-free survival was 3.6 months for patients receiving pemetrexed and 3.1 months for those receiving docetaxel(p=0.45). The median overall survival was 14.8 months in the pemetrexed group and 10.9 months in the docetaxel group(p=0.36).Patients who received docetaxel were more likely to have grade 3 or 4 neutropenia and febrile neutropenia than those receiving pemetrexed.However, 2 patients who received pemetrexed showed grade 3 pneumonitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pemetrexed monotherapy is a promising treatment for previously untreated elderly patients with non-squamous cell lung cancer.
authors.affiliation: First Dept. of Internal Medicine, University of Toyama.
authors.forename: Minehiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Inomata
authors.forename: Ryuji
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Kotaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tokui
authors.forename: Seisuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Okazawa
authors.forename: Chihiro
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Taka
authors.forename: Kenta
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kambara
authors.forename: Kensuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Toshiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miwa
authors.forename: Shoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsui
authors.forename: Tatsuhiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kashii
authors.forename: Kazuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tobe
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005971:Glutamates / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006147:Guanine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000068437:Pemetrexed; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D005971:Glutamates; D000068437:Pemetrexed; D006147:Guanine; C512478:EGFR protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors