Evaluation of pemetrexed (Alimta, LY231514) as second-line chemotherapy in persistent or recurrent carcinoma of the cervix: the CERVIX 1 study of the MITO (Multicentre Italian Trials in Ovarian Cancer and Gynecologic Malignancies) Group

Abstract

BackgroundThe objective of the study was to estimate the antitumor activity of pemetrexed in patients with advanced/recurrent carcinoma of the cervix and to determine the nature and degree of toxicity. MethodsA multicenter phase II trial was conducted by the Multicentre Italian Trials in Ovarian Cancer and Gynecologic Malignancies (MITO) Group. Patients with advanced/recurrent measurable carcinoma of the cervix that had failed one prior chemotherapy regimen in association or not with radiotherapy were treated with pemetrexed at a dose of 500 mg/m2 every 21 days. All the patients had a measurable lesion according to RECIST criteria in a not previously irradiated field. ResultsFrom November 2006 to September 2008, 43 patients were entered by seven member institutions of the MITO-Group. A total of 164 cycles (median 2, range 1–9) were administered. The treatment was well tolerated. More serious toxic effects (grades 3 and 4) included leukopenia in 27.9% and neutropenia in 30.2% of patients. No treatment-related deaths were reported. Six patients (13.9%) had partial responses (at least a 30% decrease in the sum of longest diameter of target lesions taking as reference the baseline sum longest diameter) with a median response of 7 weeks (range 3–27). Twenty-three patients (53.4%) had stable disease (less than a 50% reduction and less than a 25% increase in the sum of the products of two perpendicular diameters of all measured lesions and the appearance of no new lesions) and fourteen (32.5%) patients had progressive disease. Median progression-free survival was 10 weeks and overall survival was 35 weeks. ConclusionPemetrexed showed moderate activity against advanced/recurrent cervical cancer that had failed prior chemotherapy.