|
Mesothelioma
Treatment
Articles
and Abstracts
Future
directions in the development of
pemetrexed.
Semin
Oncol 2002 Apr;29(2 Suppl 5):54-61
Calvert
H, Bunn PA Jr.
Department
of Oncology, University of Newcastle Upon
Tyne, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.
Pemetrexed
is a novel antifolate that inhibits
several folate-dependent enzymes in
addition to thymidylate synthase. Such a
drug may have theoretical advantages over
fluoropyrimidines and specifically acting
antifolates. Phase I studies identified a
preferred schedule of an intravenous dose
once every 3 weeks. Phase II studies
showed a broad spectrum of activity in
solid tumors (ie, non-small cell lung,
colorectal, and pancreatic cancers)
usually considered refractory to most
antimetabolites. Binary combinations with
cisplatin, carboplatin, and gemcitabine
have proven feasible and show encouraging
activity in lung cancer and mesothelioma.
Problems of sporadic life-threatening
toxicity identified in early studies of
this and other antifolates have been
resolved by the discovery that they were
caused by functional folate deficiency and
may be avoided by a low-dose nutritional
supplement of folic acid and vitamin
B(12). Pemetrexed is a promising new drug
that should make a contribution to solid
tumor oncology. Copyright 2002, Elsevier
Science (USA). All rights reserved.
PMID:
12023794 [PubMed - indexed for
MEDLINE]
Click here to order or save
article
If
you have any questions regarding treatment
options or your legal rights, please
contact
us.
|