Efficacy of Pemetrexed as Second-line Therapy or Beyond in Patients 
with Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Abstract

Background and objective Pemetrexed is a standard second-line therapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Currently, cytotoxic treatments beyond second-line therapy are not available. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of pemetrexed as a salvage regimen in heavily pretreated patients with NSCLC. Methods Clinical data on 37 patients with advanced NSCLC who received pemetrexed as second-line therapy or beyond in Cancer Hospital of Peking Union Medical College from Feb 2005 to Sep 2009 were reviewed and analyzed retrospectively. Results Thirteen patients (35.1%) received pemetrexed as second-line treatment, whereas 24 (64.9%) received it as third-line treatment or beyond. Complete response, partial response, stable disease and progressive disease were noted in 1 (2.7%), 2 (5.4%), 17 (45.9%) and 12 (32.4%) of the patients, respectively, with the disease control rate being 54.1%. The median duration of progression free survival was 8.05 months, whereas that of overall survival was 19.29 months. Conclusion Pemetrexed is efficacious and tolerable as second-line therapy or beyond for advanced NSCLC and should thus be recommended for patients with this disease.

Keywords

• Lung neoplasms
• Pemetrexed
• Chemotherapy