Phase II trial of pemetrexed continuation--maintenance after carboplatin-based induction in untreated non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer.

AIM

We conducted a phase II study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pemetrexed continuation-maintenance after carboplatin-based induction for advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Thirty-four patients with advanced or recurrent non-squamous NSCLC received carboplatin (area under the concentration-time curve 6 mg/ml×min) plus pemetrexed (500 mg/m(2)) on day 1 tri-weekly. After four cycles of induction, patients without disease progression received pemetrexed maintenance until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

RESULTS

Twenty-five patients completed induction and 22 received maintenance. The 1-year survival, objective response and disease control rates were 70.3%, 32.4% and 88.2%, respectively. The median progression-free survival and overall survival of all patients were 5.2 and 23.3 months. The incidental rates of grade 3 or more severe adverse events were low.

CONCLUSION

This regimen appears to be an appropriate option for chemonaïve patients with advanced non-squamous NSCLC.