Researchers from the United Kingdom have reported that Alimta® (pemetrexed) and Paraplatin® (carboplatin) may be effective palliation for patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. The details of this study appeared in the May 1, 2009 issue of Lung Cancer.[1] 

Pleural mesothelioma is a rare and lethal form of cancer caused by asbestos exposure. There are about 2,500 new cases per year in the United States. Because the disease is often advanced at the time of diagnosis, average survival for those with pleural mesothelioma has been significantly less than one year. Recent studies have suggested that chemotherapy can improve quality of life and prolong survival compared with supportive care measures. At the 12th World Conference on Lung Cancer in September, 2007, there were two studies presented on the treatment of malignant mesothelioma with Alimta. The combination of Alimta and Paraplatin® (carboplatin) was found to have an overall response rate of 22%, a disease control rate of 76%, a one-year survival rate of 64%, and a median time to disease progression of seven months. Researchers from Italy have recently reported that the combination of Alimta and Paraplatin is effective palliative therapy for elderly patients (median age of 65 years) with mesothelioma.

There were 49 patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma in the UK study who were treated with Alimta and Paraplatin. Disease control was achieved in 69% of patients. The clinical response rate was also 69%. The median time to treatment failure was 4.6 months, and median overall survival was 14 months. This regimen was described as well tolerated and without treatment-related mortality.

Comments: These and other studies suggest that Alimta and Paraplatin is a realistic option for patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Reference:

[1] Li L, Razak ARA, Hughes A. Carboplatin and pemetrexed in the management of malignant pleural mesothelioma: A realistic option? Lung Cancer. 2009;64:207-210.