Pemetrexed in second-line therapy in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma

Abstract

18198 Introduction: Based on the study of Vogelzang (2003) standard treatment in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is pemetrexed cisplatin with a medium survival of 12 months compared to 9 months with cisplatin therapy. As this treatment prolongs survival, but is not a curative treatment, many patients will relapse during the course of their disease. In sensitive relapses (within more than 3 months) our policy was to reintroduce pemetrexed therapy in unselected consecutive patients. Methods: Retrospective analysis of 17 consecutive patients treated in our hospital. Patient characteristics: 17 patients (pat), 14 males, 3 females, with MPM were included between April 2004 and November 2006 with an age between 45 and 82 years, with a median age of 65 years. Histologic subtypes were: 16 epithelial, 1 biphasic MPM. Pretreatment: 8 pat. had undergone palliative debulcing surgery (pleurectomy) 1 pat. underwent EPP. All patients were pretreated with platinum /pemetrexed, 5 pat. were pretreated with platinum/Gemcitabine before the availability of pemetrexed. 2nd line chemotherapy: 9 pat. were treated with carboplatin AUC5 / pemetrexed 500 mg/m2, 1 patient had cisplatinum 75 mg/m2/Pemetrexed 500 mg/m2 and 7 patients had pemetrexed single agent therapy (500 mg/m2 d1, WH d21), repeated on day 22 respectively. Results: Response: 6% (n=1) PR, MR: 12% (n=2 )., NC: 47% (n=8)., PD: 35% (n= 6), clinical benefit (PR, MR, NC) was seen in 65% of ou pat. Toxicity: Pemetrexed/Carboplatin or pemetrexed therapy were well tolerated, toxicity was mild: one patient developed mild sensory neurotoxicity (peripheral sensory neuropathy) (WHO II) under 6 cycles pemetrexed, 35% developed mild fatigue (Who I and II), one patient had mild renal impairment, no alopecia was seen. Survival: Only 3 patients had still died, median survival from start of second-line pemetrexed-therapy was not reached, time to progression was between 25 and 630 days, 4 pat. had not progressed until now. Conclusion: Second line therapy in MPM is not yet standard of care. Nevertheless patients with progressive disease following pemetrexed/platinum therapy may benefit from second line pemetrexed reintroduction therapy. Clinical benefit was seen in 65% with low toxicity. No significant financial relationships to disclose.