Results of treatment of patients with locally advanced and metastatic non-squamous cell non-small-cell lung carcinoma with pemetrexed (by own experience)

Lung cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors. As over 70 % of patients at diagnosis have locally advanced or generalized process, the majority of patients receive drug treatment only. We evaluated effectiveness and toxicity of pemetrexed (Alimta) in 24 patients with locally advanced and metastatic non-squamous cell non-small-cell lung carcinoma with the known EGFR mutation status. Pemetrexed 500 mg/m2 was administered as monotherapy (8 patients) or in combination with platinum-based drugs (15 patients). Three (12.5 %) patients showed complete regression, 7 (29.2 %) - partial regression, 10 (41.7 %) - stabilization, 4 (16.6 %) - progression. The median survival was 14.8 months. Non-hematological complications were registered, usually concerning the digestive system. Hematological complications included first-degree leukopenia - 27 (21.3 %), second- and third-degree thrombocytopenia - 1 case of each (0.8%). The complications did not require administration of drugs or were corrected medicamentally. We observed a high effectiveness of pemetrexed in patients with non-squamous NSCLC, as well as a low rate of complications and controlled toxicity.