Review of pemetrexed in combination with cisplatin for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma

Review

(1877) Views  (547) Full article downloads

Author: Ranjit K Goudar

Published Date March 2008 Volume 2008:4(1) Pages 205 - 211

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/TCRM.S1603

Ranjit K Goudar

Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Medical Oncology and Cellular Therapy, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA

Abstract: Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a resistant form of lung cancer, and its incidence continues to rise in Europe and Australia. Until recently, chemotherapy had not been shown to be effective in the treatment of this slowly progressive disease. In 2004, the combination of pemetrexed and cisplatin was shown to induce high response rates in MPM. This article reviews the published literature describing the development and testing of this therapeutic combination in mesothelioma, and examines in detail the key phase III clinical trial that led to the approval of pemetrexed by the US FDA. Ongoing research will further define the role of pemetrexed plus cisplatin in the treatment of MPM.

Keywords: malignant pleural mesothelioma, mesothelioma, pemetrexed, cisplatin