title: Pemetrexed is mildly active with good tolerability in treating patients with gastric cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This systemic analysis was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pemetrexed based chemotherapy in treating patients with metastatic gastric cancer (MGC) as a salvage chemotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of pemetrexed based regimens on response and safety for patients with gastric cancer were identified by using a predefined search strategy. Pooled response rates (RRs) of treatment were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In pemetrexed based regimens, 4 clinical studies including 171 patients with advanced gastric cancer were considered eligible for inclusion. Systemic analysis suggested that, in all patients, pooled RR was 25.1% (43/171) in pemetrexed based regimens. Major adverse effects were neutropenia, anorexia, fatigue, and anemia. No treatment related death occurred in pemetrexed based treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This systemic analysis suggests that pemetrexed based regimens are associated with mild activity with good tolerability in treating patients with MGC.
authors.affiliation: Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Hubei Clinical Cancer Study Center, Zhong Nan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China E-mail : liyan37666@163.com.
authors.forename: Hai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.forename: Cong-Yao
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000139:chemically induced; D005971:Glutamates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006147:Guanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D000068437:Pemetrexed; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D005971:Glutamates; D000068437:Pemetrexed; D006147:Guanine