Abstract

BACKGROUND
This study evaluated efficacy and safety of pemetrexed in patients with refractory soft tissue sarcoma.
METHODS
Patients received pemetrexed intravenously at a dose of 500 mg/m² every 21 days until progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary endpoint was objective tumor response.
RESULTS
Fourty-eight of 53 screened patients were included and received a total of 200 cycles (median 2; range 1-30). Median age was 53 years (range, 20-81). The observed toxicity profile was favorable. NCI-CTC hematologic grade 3/4 toxicity consisted of neutropenia in 13 %, anemia in 15 %, and febrile neutropenia in 4 % of patients of patients, respectively. Non-hematologic CTC grade 3/4 toxicity consisted of elevated ASAT/ALAT in 10 %, hyperglycemia in 6 %, infection with or without neutropenia in 6 %, nausea in 2 % and stomatitis in 2 % of patients. No other grade 3 toxicities and no treatment-related toxic deaths were observed. Overall response as defined by RECIST was 5 %, 16 patients experienced stable disease (40 %). The estimated 3- and 6-months progression-free rates were 33.3 % and 14.6 %, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
In patients with refractory STS, pemetrexed is well tolerated and moderately effective. The confirmed objective response rate in STS is low, however, disease stabilizations are seen in a high proportion of patients (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00427466).

Links

Publisher Full Text

Authors

Hartmann JT, Bauer S, Egerer G, Horger MS, Kopp HG, Grünwald V, Mayer F

Institution

Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Kiel, Germany. joerg.hartmann@uksh.de

Source

Investigational new drugs 31:1 2013 Feb pg 167-74

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22763609