Annals of Oncology Advance Access originally published online on December 20, 2007
Annals of Oncology 2008 19(2):370-373; doi:10.1093/annonc/mdm501
lung cancer |
Phase II study of pemetrexed in combination with carboplatin in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM)
1 Department of Oncology, Novi Ligure Hospital, viale Giolitti, Novi Ligure (AL)
2 Department of Oncology, Ospedale C. Poma, viale Albertoni, Mantova
3 Department of Oncology, Ospedale Villa Scassi, Corso Onofrio Scassi, Genova
4 Department of Oncology, Ospedale Maggiore della Carità, Corso Mazzini, Novara
5 Department of Pneumology, Ospedale Regionale di Aosta, viale Ginevra, Aosta
6 Department of Pneumology, Ospedale S. Spirito, viale Giolitti, Casale Monferrato (AL)
7 Occupational Medicine Unit, University of Genoa, Largo Rosanna Benzi, Genova, Italy
* Correspondence to: Dr M. Mencoboni, via Giovanni Torti 6/13, 16143 Genoa, Italy. Tel: +39-010-4102639; Fax: +39-010-8630625; E-mail: manlio.mencoboni{at}fastwebnet.it
Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity and toxicity of pemetrexed and carboplatin combination as first-line chemotherapy in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM).
Patients and methods: Patients with measurable advanced MPM and a zero to two Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) were enrolled. The schedule was pemetrexed 500 mg/m2 in combination with carboplatin area under the curve 5, every 21 days. In all, 76 patients were treated. Median age was 65 years; median ECOG PS was zero.
Results: Grade 3 hematological toxicity according to World Health Organization criteria was seen in 36 (47.3%) patients; grade 4 hematological toxicity in 5 (6.5%) patients. There were 16 (21%) partial responses and 3 (4%) complete responses, for an overall response rate of 19 (25%) [95% confidence interval (CI) 15.3–34.7]. In all, 29 (39%) (95% CI 28–48) patients reported stable disease. The median survival was estimated at 14 months.
Conclusion: This combination of carboplatin and pemetrexed is moderately active and the toxicity is acceptable.
Key words: chemotherapy, mesothelioma, pemetrexed
Received for publication June 2, 2007. Revision received September 12, 2007. Accepted for publication September 14, 2007.