Pemetrexed in Previously Treated Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Patients with Poor Performance Status

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Pemetrexed have been approved for the treatment of patients affected by advanced non-small cell lung cancner (NSCLC) in progression after first-line chemotherapy. We evaluated the activity and feasibility of pemetrexed in previously treated NSCLC. METHODS: Patients with histologically or cytologically confirmed NSCLC were evaluated from April 2007 to March 2009. The patients had relapsed or progressed after prior chemotherapy treatment. Pemetrexed (500 mg/m(2)) was administered intravenously once every 3 weeks after progression to prior chemotherapy. The tumor response was evaluated according to RECIST criteria by chest CT at every 2 cycles of chemotherapy. RESULTS: A total 61 patients were eligible for analysis. Performance status of them (100%) was over 2. The response rate and disease control rate were 14.7% and 37.7% respectively. Non-squamous cell carcinoma histology was significantly associated with a superior response rate (P=0.045) and disease control rate (P=0.008). The median survival time and the median progression free survival (PFS) time were 6.11 months and 2.17 months, respectively. Comparing the efficacy of pemetrexed in these two settings [second-line versus (12/61) more than third (49/61)], there was no significant difference in regard to median survival (11.18 months vs 11.46 months, P=0.922, 5), but PFS was more longer in third- or further-line groups than second-line group (1.39 months vs 2.25 months, P=0.015, 3). CONCLUSION: Pemetrexed is a feasible regimen in previously treated NSCLC with poor performance status.