title: Pemetrexed is mildly active with good tolerability for treatment of patients with colorectal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This systematic analysis was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pemetrexed based salvage chemotherapy for treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of pemetrexed based regimens on response and safety for patients with colorectal cancer were identified using a predefined search strategy. Pooled response rates (RRs) were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For pemetrexed based regimens, 4 clinical studies including 201 patients with advanced colorectal cancer were considered eligible for inclusion. The analysis suggested that, in all patients, pooled RR was 20.4% (41/201). Major adverse effects were neutropenia, anorexia, fatigue, and anemia. No treatment related death occurred with pemetrexed based treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This systematic analysis suggests that pemetrexed based regimens are associated with mild activity with good tolerability in treating patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Heping Hospital of Changzhi Medical College, Changzhi, Shanxi, China E-mail : hqing_z@sina.com.
authors.forename: Hui-Qing
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Chang-Hong
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lian
authors.forename: Yao-Dong
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Ping
authors.forename: Wen-Bin
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Qing-Pu
authors.initials: QP
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Shu-Zhe
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Lin-Zhong
authors.initials: LZ
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D005971:Glutamates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006147:Guanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D000068437:Pemetrexed; D011379:Prognosis; D012074:Remission Induction; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D005971:Glutamates; D000068437:Pemetrexed; D006147:Guanine