According to results recently presented at the 2007 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the chemotherapy combination consisting of Alimta (pemetrexed) plus a platinum compound (Platinol® [cisplatin] or Paraplatin® [carboplatin]) has been confirmed as an active therapeutic regimen in the treatment of patients with previously untreated malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a rare cancer that develops in the tissues that comprise the lining of the lung (pleura). The majority of individuals who develop malignant pleural mesothelioma have experienced chronic exposure to asbestos. Patients with this disease often have a decreased quality of life from symptoms caused by the cancer, such as shortness of breath, cough, pain, fatigue, and the inability to eat. This type of cancer is resistant to most therapies, which consist of surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation therapy. Furthermore, most people do not learn that they have malignant pleural mesothelioma until the disease has progressed to an advanced stage when treatment with surgery or radiation is not an option. Therefore, identification of a chemotherapy regimen that can improve quality of life or survival is essential for improving care in this population.

A previous Phase III study compared Alimta/Platinol to Platinol alone in 448 patients from 19 countries - the largest trial to date among patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. Results showed significantly improved survival, response rate, and median time to progression for patients receiving the combination of Alimta and Platinol. Following completion of this trial, Alimta  was made available on an expanded access program.

A total of 745 patients were treated on the expanded access program and resultswere reported at ASCO 2007. Patients in this trial were not eligible for surgery and were treated with Alimta plus Platinol or Alimta plus Paraplatin.

• At one year, survival was approximately 64% for both treatment groups.
• The median time to cancer progression was approximately seven months for both treatment groups.
• Overall, partial response rates were 26.3% for patients treated with Alimta/Platinol and 21.6% for those treated with Alimta/Paraplatin.
• Partial responses plus stable disease occurred in 77.7% of patients receiving Alimta/Platinol and 75.8% of those receiving Alimta/Paraplatin.
• Severe thrombocytopenia, anemia, neutropenia and leucopenia occurred more frequently among patients treated with Alimta/Paraplatin than those treated with Alimta/Platinol.

Comments: These researchers concluded that the combination of Alimta plus a platinum compound provides significant palliation for patients with previously untreated mesothelioma.

Reference: Santoro A, et al. Pemetrexed plus cisplatin or pemetrexed plus carboplatin for chemonaive patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma: results for the international expanded access program. Proceedings from the 2007 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology Conference. Chicago, IL.  Abstract # 7562.

Related News:

Alimta® Approved for Mesothelioma (2/5/2004)

Lilly Given OK To Make Alimta® (pemetrexed) Available on Expanded Access Basis:Agent Now Available to Medically Eligible Patients With Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (7/12/2002)

Pemetrexed (Alimta®) Plus Platinol® Proposed as Standard of Care for Patients with Metastatic Mesothelioma (5/23/2002)

The Combination Oxaliplatin and Raltitrexed is Effective For Treatment of Inoperable Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: Results of a Pilot Study (5/14/2002)