title: Long progression-free survival by pemetrexed continuation maintenance therapy following cisplatin-based chemotherapy in malignant pleural mesothelioma.
abstract: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is associated with a poor prognosis. The combination of cisplatin and pemetrexed has been established as a standard chemotherapy that confers a survival benefit. Because the regimen is sometimes hampered by the renal toxicity of cisplatin and no second-line chemotherapy has yet been established, the strategy of administering a higher total dose of pemetrexed to optimize the regimen could be promising. We herein describe the case of a 69-year-old man with MPM who underwent five cycles of cisplatin plus pemetrexed and exhibited a partial response. Because his serum creatinine increased, pemetrexed maintenance therapy (PMT) was adopted, and 18 cycles were successfully delivered and the patient achieved a complete response. This case suggests that PMT could thus be useful for treating MPM.
authors.affiliation: Division of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Uji Tokushukai Medical Center, Japan.
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takeda
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Itano
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fukita
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saitoh
authors.forename: Sorou
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takeda
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; 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* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D000086002:Mesothelioma, Malignant; D000068437:Pemetrexed; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D012074:Remission Induction
chemical_list: D005971:Glutamates; D000068437:Pemetrexed; D006147:Guanine; D002945:Cisplatin